This document describes a laboratory experiment on neutralization reactions. Students will use conductivity measurements and temperature probes to study the strengths of acids and bases and the heat released during neutralization reactions. Specifically, they will (1) determine acid and base strengths using conductivity, (2) distinguish acids and bases with litmus paper, (3) measure temperature changes during neutralization using probes, and (4) study how heat released relates to acid/base strengths. The procedure has students neutralize sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide with acetic acid, measuring conductivity and temperatures.
This document describes a laboratory experiment on neutralization reactions. Students will use conductivity measurements and temperature probes to study the strengths of acids and bases and the heat released during neutralization reactions. Specifically, they will (1) determine acid and base strengths using conductivity, (2) distinguish acids and bases with litmus paper, (3) measure temperature changes during neutralization using probes, and (4) study how heat released relates to acid/base strengths. The procedure has students neutralize sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide with acetic acid, measuring conductivity and temperatures.
This document describes a laboratory experiment on neutralization reactions. Students will use conductivity measurements and temperature probes to study the strengths of acids and bases and the heat released during neutralization reactions. Specifically, they will (1) determine acid and base strengths using conductivity, (2) distinguish acids and bases with litmus paper, (3) measure temperature changes during neutralization using probes, and (4) study how heat released relates to acid/base strengths. The procedure has students neutralize sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide with acetic acid, measuring conductivity and temperatures.
This document describes a laboratory experiment on neutralization reactions. Students will use conductivity measurements and temperature probes to study the strengths of acids and bases and the heat released during neutralization reactions. Specifically, they will (1) determine acid and base strengths using conductivity, (2) distinguish acids and bases with litmus paper, (3) measure temperature changes during neutralization using probes, and (4) study how heat released relates to acid/base strengths. The procedure has students neutralize sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide with acetic acid, measuring conductivity and temperatures.
If an acid is added to a base, a chemical reaction called neutralization occurs. An example is the reaction between nitric acid, HNO3, and the base potassium hydroxide, KOH. HNO3 + KOH → H2O + KNO3 Neutralization produces a salt and water. KNO3 is the salt in the above reaction. Heat energy is generally released, and the amount of heat released depends upon the properties of the acid and the base. Temperature measurements, made with a Temperature Probe, can be used to study the heat effects of neutralization.
Acids and bases may be classified as weak or strong. These terms, weak and strong, have nothing to do with the concentration of the acid and base. The strength of an acid or base only refers to its ability to break up into ions in water. A strong acid or base breaks up completely into ions when added to water. A weak acid or base will not break up completely into ions when added to water.
Much of the weak acid or base remains as molecules. Since the conductivity of a solution is determined by ion concentration in the solution, a Conductivity Probe can be used to determine the strengths of acids and bases.
OBJECTIVES In this experiment, you will 1) Use conductivity to determine the strengths of acids and bases. 2) Use litmus paper to distinguish acids and bases 3) Use a computer to measure temperatures of reactants and products of neutralization reactions 4) Study the relationship between acid and base strength and heat released during neutralization. Problem:
Hypothesis:
MATERIALS 1) Styrofoam cup 2) 250 mL beaker 3) and blue litmus paper 4) Logger Pro 5) sodium hydroxide, NaOH, solution 6) NeuLogTemperature Probe 7) hydrochloric acid, HCl, solution 8) NeuLog Conductivity Probe 9) ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH, solution 10) 50 mL graduated cylinder acetic acid, 11) HC2H3O2, solution [Type text]
This laboratory investigation was modified from a Verneir Probe Lab.
PROCEDURE 1) Your teacher will use a Conductivity Probe connected to a computer to measure the conductivity of each solution. Record the results in the data table. 2) Obtain and wear goggles! CAUTION: Handle the acids and bases in this experiment with care. They can cause painful burns if they come in contact with your skin or get into your eyes. 3) Place a Styrofoam cup into a 250 mL beaker, as shown in Figure 1. Measure out 50 mL of NaOH solution into a 50 mL graduated cylinder. Pour the NaOH solution into the Styrofoam cup. 4) Use a stirring rod to transfer 1 drop of the NaOH solution to a piece of red litmus paper. Record the results. Repeat the procedure using blue litmus paper. 5) Place the Temperature Probe into the NaOH solution. 6) Rinse the 50 mL graduated cylinder with water. Then measure out 50 mL of HCl solution. 7) Use your stirring rod to test the HCl solution with red and blue litmus paper. Record the results. 8) Note: The Temperature Probe must be in the NaOH solution for at least 45 seconds before this step. 9) Dispose of the reaction products as directed by your teacher. 10) Repeat Steps 4 –9, replacing NaOH with NH4OH and HCl with HC2H3O2.
[Type text]
This laboratory investigation was modified from a Verneir Probe Lab.
PROCESSING THE DATA
1) Calculate the temperature change, Δt, for each reaction. Subtract the minimum temperature from the maximum temperature. 2) Which neutralization reaction had the larger temperature change? 3) Were the two neutralization reactions endothermic or exothermic? 4) Write a balanced equation for the reaction between NaOH and HCl. You can use the model given in the experiment introduction. 5) Write a balanced equation for the reaction between NH4OH and HC2H3O2. 6) One of the reactions studied involved a strong base and a strong acid and the other reaction involved a weak base and a weak acid. According to the conductivity values, which reaction involved a strong base and a strong acid? Explain. 7) From the results of this experiment, how is the amount of heat released in a neutralization reaction related to the strengths of the acid and base involved?
EXTENSIONS 1) Repeat the experiment using other acids and bases and compare the results. 2) Try weak base and strong acid combinations and strong base and weak acid combinations.
[Type text]
This laboratory investigation was modified from a Verneir Probe Lab.
