Experiment 14: EXPERIMRNTAL APPLICATIONS OF HESS’S LAW

Objective
To investigate the enthalpy change of reaction, ∆H by Hess’s law and to study the relationship between
change in temperature ∆T and enthalpy change ∆H.

Introduction
The purpose of the performed experiment was to prove Hess’s law through the use of calorimeter and to
determine the enthalpy change of reaction as well as to study the relationship between change in
temperature and enthalpy change through the use of hydrochloric acid, ammonia and solid ammonium
chloride. Change in enthalpy is the change in internal energy plus the product of the constant pressure
and the change in volume.
∆H = ∆E + P∆V
The change in enthalpy equals to the heat gained or lost at constant pressure.
qp= ∆E + P∆V =∆ H
Enthalpy change of reaction, is also known as the heat of reaction, ∆ Hrxn, always refers to H final
minus H initial.
∆H = Hfinal – Hinitial = Hprodunts – Hreactants
The Hproducts can be lesser than Hreactants or more than Hreactants
According to (Silberberg, 2009), when Hproducts are lesser than Hreactants, it shows that the system
undergoes an exothermic process which releases heat into the surroundings and is usually observed as
temperature increases in the solvent, container and other intermediate surroundings. The amount of heat
released from the reaction can be expressed as.
qreaction = qsolution + qcalorimetar
Therefore, ∆H is a negative.
This experiment is one of the exothermic reactions as the average temperature change gives out a
negative value. An exothermic reaction will release heat to the surroundings. The heat was released to
the surroundings and the heat was observed as the temperature increased in the solvent, container, and
other immediate surroundings. During the reaction, change of energy was involved. Energy was needed
during the formation of bond and energy was released during the bond breaking.
Hess’s law of heat summation is the enthalpy change of an overall process which is the sum of the
enthalpy changes of its individual steps. Hess Law stated that the total enthalpy change in a reaction can
be calculated by adding all the change of temperature no matter the steps involved in the same reaction.
As example, if the reaction involved 2 or more steps, the ∆Hrxn for the overall reactions must be the
sum of the ∆Hrxn of each constituent reactions.

According to Albert Einstein’s equation (e=mc2) everything in the universe that has a mass
contains energy. The constant c which is directly proportional to energy (e), represents the speed of light
multiplied by itself indicating that even the smallest mass, contains exponential amounts of potential
energy. Although we do not release energy to this scale in the experiment, the basis of releasing
potential energy from matter is still investigated as well as its relation with the laws of thermodynamics.
The properties and laws of energy dictate the flow of our everyday lives in the universe from the
chemical reactions that occur in our bodies, to the nuclear reactions in our sun that release energy in
order for life to exist on Earth.
Although it is impossible to measure the energy constant of matter, chemists can measure the
energy change or enthalpy (∆H) from a reaction. By using calorimetric based experiments, one can
measure the energy released (exothermic reaction) or energy absorbed (endothermic reaction) in a
thermodynamic system. When studying energy transfer from chemical reaction it is important to
distinguish between the substances undergoing change, which called the system, and the surrounding
environment which is called the surroundings. When energy is released/absorbed from a chemical
reaction to its surroundings, it is in the form of heat represented by q, measured in joules in the equation
q=mc∆T. The variable m represents the mass of the surroundings in grams that interacts with the energy
transfer of the chemical reagent. The variable c represents the heat capacity of the surroundings in
Joule/Gram degree Celcius, and ∆T represents the change in temperature of the surroundings. Through
the use of this equation, the enthalpy of the system can be calculated by the equation ∆H = -q. any
energy gained by the surroundings, means energy has been released from the system, thus it will be a
negative value. The ideal system for conducting a calorimetric based experiment is in an isolated system
where energy and matter cannot escape. However, it is impossible to simulate an isolated system,
therefore it is important to understand that some energy may escape the calorimeter. It is important to
assume while calculating values from calorimetric based experiments that dilute solution have the same
density (1g/1ml) and heat capacity as water (4.18J/g℃), no heat is transferred outside the calorimeter
and any heat transfer by the parts of the calorimeter are negligible. Certain elements and compounds
have indefinite enthalpy changes per quantity for each type of reaction. This is called molar enthalpy
and can be calculated from the equation ∆H = n∆Hx. the variable n represents the number of moles of
the compound, and the variable ∆Hx represents the molar enthalpy by type of reaction(x). Molar
enthalpy of a substance can also be determined using Hess’s law which states that the sum of enthalpy
change of a reaction only depends on the initial and final conditions of the process, and is the sum of the
step. Hess’s law also states that is does not matter how many steps it takes for a reactant to become a
product, the enthalpy change will remain the same. (Cann, 2015)
Apparatus and Materials
Thermo flask, thermometer, 50ml beaker, measuring cylinder, spatula, 2.00 M NH3(aq), 2.00 M HCl(aq), and solid
NH4Cl

Experimental procedure

Part 1: The reaction of hydrochloric acid solution and ammonia aqueous solution

By using a measuring cylinder measure 25.0 ml of 2.00 M NH3(aq) solution into 50 ml of beaker. Then
measure 25.0 ml of 2.00M HCl(aq) directly into the thermo flask. Measure the temperature of both of
the solution and record down. Add the 2.00 M NH3 into the thermo flask. Stir the mixture slowly and
continuously using a thermometer and record down the maximum temperature reached by the mixture.
Repeat the experiment three times.

Part 2: The dissolving of solid ammonium chloride in water

Measure 25.0 ml of the distilled water into the thermo flask and record down the temperature. Weigh
about 5 g of ammonium chloride powder. Record down the weigh. Place the NHCl4(s) into the thermo
flask by using a spatula. Stir gently with the thermometer until the solid completely dissolve and record
down the maximum temperature reach. Repeat the experiment for three times.

Results

Part 1
Experiment Initial Final Temperature
temperature, ℃ temperature, ℃ changes ∆T, ℃
1 25.5 31.0 5.5
2 25.5 31.0 5.5
3 25.5 31.0 5.5
Average 25.5 31.0 5.5

Part 2
Experiment Weigh, g Initial Final Temperature
temperature, ℃ temperature, ℃ changes ∆T, ℃
1 5.0041 25.5 15.0 10.5
2 5.0022 25.5 14.0 11.5
3 5.0011 25.5 14.0 11.5
Average 5.0025 25.5 14.3 11.2
Discussion

The objective of this experiment is to determine the change of enthalpy formation of neutralization
reactions by determining the heat given off the reactants. Through the use of Hess’s Law we can
calculate the change in enthalpy for reaction three and compare it to the results of our experimental
findings. We can compare the summation of ΔHrxn experimentally found in reaction one and two and
see how it compares to the accepted value for reaction three. Furthermore, part 2 of this lab taught us to
determine enthalpy of formation of solid ammonium chloride through experimentally finding ΔHrxn for
2 reactions while being provided with ΔHrxn for the third reaction, and through summation of those
finding ΔHrxn.

NH4Cl(s)  NH3(g) + HCl(g)

Given that
ΔH = -34640J/mole NH3(g)  NH3(aq)
ΔH = -75140J/mole HCl(g)  HCl(aq)

NH3(aq) + HCl(aq)  NH4Cl(aq)

ΔH = mcΔT
= 50 x 4.184 x 5.5
= 1150.6 J

n(NH3) = MV/1000
= 2 x 25/1000
= 0.05mol

1 mole of NH3 produce 1 mole of NH4Cl. Therefore 0.05 mole of NH3 produce 0.05 mole of NH4Cl

ΔH = 1150.6/0.05
= -23012 J/mol

NH4Cl(s)  NH4Cl(aq)

ΔH = mcΔT
= 25 x 4.184 x 11.2
= 1171.52 J
n(NH4Cl) = mass/molar mass
= 5.0025/53.5
= 0.0935 mol

ΔH = 1171.52/0.0935
= +12529.63 J/mol
ΔH = 12529.63 + 23012 + 34640 + 75140
= 145321.63 J/mol
= +145.32 kJ/mol
There are two sources of error that could have occurred during this experiment. First when measuring
the solution, measuring cylinder is been used. Measuring cylinder have low sensitivity. This may cause
the volume of the solution be not that accurate. This will affect the result on calculating the number of
mole.
The second source of error that could have occurred was loss of heat to the surroundings of the
calorimeter. Since thermo flask is not a perfect insulator, some heat would have radiated and escaped
from the calorimeter. The calculations used consider this heat loss to be negligible, despite the fact that
it was unavoidable. As a result, the accuracy of both calculations and observation would have been
diminished.
To remedy these errors, several steps could have been taken. For the measuring of the volume of the
solution we can use a pipette. Pipette is a more sensitive measuring tool compare to measuring cylinder.
By using pipette can lower down the percentage of error on the volume of solution. In order to solve the
error of lost heat to surroundings, more efficient insulators could have been used to make the
calorimeter. This would at least limit the amount of heat lost improving the accuracy of the experiment.
These recommendations to the experiment would, in theory, increase its accuracy.
The procedure followed for this experiment had only one flaw: time restraint. At points, there was not
enough time to let the reactants fully mix. When waiting for the solution to reach it maximum level,
occasionally the electronic thermometer would read that the solution was cooling, and that temperature
was recorded. If more time was allocated to this experiment, it could have been ensured that the solution
had fully reacted by waiting longer in between trials. Instead of ending the trial at first sign of
temperature decrease, the trial should have continued until a trend was seen, or a consistent temperature
decrease. More time would have allowed for a more accurate experiment. (Jenkins, 2003)
Answer
i) When a student mis-reads the final temperature of the mixture in part1 and record down a lower
temperature the value of the ΔH been calculate will be smaller than the value calculated if the mistake
had not been made. When the student record down a lower temperature value the ΔT will decrease.
Based on the formula ΔH = mcΔT, when the ΔT decrease the ΔH also will decrease.
ii) The results will be the same as the value calculated if the mistake not been made because the use the
volume of 75.0 ml to make a calculation. The change of temperature will increase if we use a higher
value of volume but due to the calculation use 75.0 ml to calculate the value of number of mole also will
increase. Therefore, the ΔH will been the same.

Conclusion
This experiment determined the standard enthalpy of ammonium chloride. The purpose of the lab was to
use a calorimeter to collect data for the enthalpy change so Hess’s law could be used to calculate the
standard enthalpy of ammonium chloride. This was the purpose because the to investigate the enthalpy
change of reaction, ΔH by hess’s law. The systematic error could be limited if the experiment were done
again. Perhaps making the result more accurate. The standard enthalpy that was found was positive,
meaning that one mole of ammonium chloride absorb energy, and heat. This experiment is extremely
important in the real world. Hess’s law is used to make cars more fuel-efficient. The engine of a car
works by the expansion of gas driving the pistons. Hess’s Law is useful in determining whether a new
mixture of gasoline would cause higher or lower heat levels. If it creates higher heat levels the engine
will be more fuel-efficient. The larger standard enthalpy of formation the gas has, the more heat will be
given off, and therefore the more fuel-efficient. Hess’s law helps create more fuel-efficient cars, which
is not only good for keeping money in people’s pockets but also better for the environment.

References

Cann, P. a. H. P., 2015. Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry (9701). s.l.:Hodder
Education.
Jenkins, h. v. k., 2003. Nelson Chemistry 12. s.l.:s.n.
Silberberg, M., 2009. Principles of General Chemistry. s.l.:s.n.