Experiment 5

Calorimetry and Thermochemical Measurements

In this experiment, we will use Styrofoam cups and a thermometer as a calorimeter to determine the
specific heat of copper and aluminum (part II), and the enthalpy change of a neutralization reaction
(part III). Since our calorimeter is not completely insulated, we will first need to determine the heat
capacity of our calorimeter, (part I), which is the heat gained by our calorimeter per degree of
temperature change. The result we get for the heat capacity of the calorimeter will be used in
calculating the specific heat of our metals and the enthalpy change of our neutralization reaction.
Include the following in your lab report:

Title page: (typed)

• Include your name, the date, experiment #, and experiment title

Prelab: (Handwritten)
• Objective: Write a short statement describing the purpose of the experiment.
• Theory: Write a paragraph explaining the theoretical basis for this experiment (background
information)
• Procedure: Write an outlined procedure from the lab manual for all parts of the
experiment.
• Pre lab questions: answer the prelab questions given at the end of this document (also
found on page 65 of your lab manual). You can print the paper and answer the questions
directly on the provided paper.

In-lab: (Handwritten)
• Data : Use the data tables I provided for you at the end of this document to fill in the data
assigned to you. You do not need to recopy tables. You can print and fill in the tables I
provided for you.
• Calculation/graph: Create the graphs and perform the calculations asked for below for all
3 parts:
Part I Calculations
1. Graph data to find initial temperature and Temperature at Time of Mixing
On the same graph, plot the temperature (y-axis) versus the time (x-axis) for the calorimeter and its
cold water contents before and after mixing in the hot water. Extrapolate both graphs to the time of
mixing. This is easiest to do if you plot the data with the time of mixing (the 5th minute) as
zero, making the times before mixing negative numbers and those after mixing positive
numbers. Then when you direct the spreadsheet program to plot and extrapolate the data and give
the equation for each line, the y-intercept will be the temperature at the time of mixing (time zero).
Clearly indicate on your graph the extrapolated values for the temperature of the cold water at the
instant of mixing and the maximum temperature of the calorimeter contents in the instant just after
mixing.

Here is what the Excel chart should look like for graphing:
Time (min) Temp cold water (C) Temp hot water (C) Temp after mixing (C)
-5 temp @ 5:48
-4.5
-4 temp @ 5:56
-3.5
-3 temp @ 6:12
-2.5
-2 temp @ 6:26
-1.5
-1 temp @ 7:10
0 temp @ 7:21
0.5 temp @ 7:50
1 temp @ 8:00
1.5 temp @ 8:04
2 temp @ 8:21
2.5 temp @ 8:34
3 temp @ 8:39
3.5 temp @ 8:52
4 temp @ 8:59
4.5 temp @ 9:07
5 temp @ 9:26

Sample graph:

T
final
T
initial hot

T
initial cold
2. Determine Temperature Changes
Now you can calculate the change of temperature for the calorimeter and its cold-water contents
(ΔTC) and for the hot water (ΔTH). To calculate the change in temperature use the following
equation:

ΔT = Tf inal - Tinitial

where Tf inal is the extrapolated maximum temperature at the time of mixing and Tinitial is the
temperature of the cold or hot water just before mixing. Show the calculation of ΔTC and ΔTH in the
Calculations section of your report.

T H = Tf inal – Tinitial hot water T c = Tf inal – Tinitial cold water

get Tinitial cold and Tf inal from the graph; get Tinitial hot from data table.

3. Determine the heat absorbed by the calorimeter using the difference between the heat Lost by
the hot water and Heat Gained by the cold water.
The amount of heat gained by the calorimeter and the cold water is exactly equal to that lost by the
hot water. The heat gained by the calorimeter may be expressed as the sum of two parts,
where the first part represents the heat gained by the cold water in the calorimeter and
the second part represents the heat gained by the cups plus the thermometer. Show the
calculation of the heat lost by the hot water (qH) and the heat gained by the cold water (qC).

Heat given off by hot water = heat gained by cold water + heat gained by calorimeter

q hot water = − (q cold water + q calorimeter)

m hot water x c water x Thot water = - [(m cold water x c water x Tcold water) + q calorimeter]

Plug in Thot water and Tcold water from above; c water = 4.184 J/(g C); calculate masses of hot and cold
water used by subtracting masses of containers for each (Styrofoam cups and beaker). Solve for q
calorimeter.

4. Calculate the Heat Capacity of Calorimeter

Using the above results, you can now achieve the objective of this first part of the experiment—
determining the calorimeter constant. Show the calculation of the apparent heat capacity of
your calorimeter, i.e. the heat gained by the cups plus the thermometer per degree of temperature
change. Solve for Ccalorimeter.

q calorimeter = Ccalorimeter x Tcold water

Part II calculations
1. Graph data to find initial temperature and Temperature at Time of Mixing
For each metal, plot temperature versus time for the contents of the calorimeter before
mixing and after mixing similar to how you did the graph for part I. Extrapolate both graphs to time
zero to get the best measurement of the temperatures at the instant just before mixing (Tinitial) and
the instant just after (Tf inal). Clearly indicate on the graph the value of each of these
temperatures.

Show the calculations of the change in temperature of the metal pellets and the change in
temperature of the calorimeter.

Tmetal = Tf inal – Tinitial hot metal T water = Tf inal – Tinitial cold water

get Tinitial cold water and Tf inal from the graph; get Tinitial hot metal from data table or graph.

Sample graph for copper:

Tinitial hot metal

2. Calculate the Specific Heat of copper

a. Experimental Value of Specific Heat
Assuming that the heat gained by the calorimeter is equal to the heat lost by the metal, for
each metal calculate the joules per gram per degree change in temperature for the
metal, i.e., its specific heat. Remember that the heat gained by the calorimeter is equal to
the heat gained by the water in the calorimeter plus that gained by the cups and the
thermometer

Heat given off by hot metal = heat gained by cold water + heat gained by calorimeter
q metal = − (q cold water + q calorimeter)
m metal x c metal x Tmetal = - [(m cold water x c water x Tcold water) + q calorimeter]

Plug in Tmetal and T water from above; c water = 4.184 J/(g C); calculate mass of water by subtracting
mass of beaker; plug in mass of copper. Solve for cmetal.

Repeat 1 and 2 above for aluminum

 b. Reference Value of Specific Heat
Look up the specific heat for copper and aluminum.

c. For each metal calculate the error and % error in your experimentally determined value
compared to the average literature value. Recall:

error = experimental value - reported value

% error = (error/reported value) x 100

d. Summary of Results
Prepare a summary table of results showing your experimental values of the specific
heat of aluminum and copper, the literature values, error, and percent error.

3. Molar heat capacity

Toward a Deeper Understanding: The Law of Dulong and Petit

In about 1819 Pierre Dulong and Alexis Petit pointed out that for most solid elements, especially
the metals, a constant value for the molar heat capacity of about 26 J/mol*C is obtained as the
product of the specific heat capacity (J/gC) and the known atomic mass (g/mol). This
correlation gave a method for estimating atomic masses of heavier elements. It became
known as the Law of Dulong and Petit.

a. Experimental Molar Heat Capacity

Calculate the molar heat capacity of copper and aluminum from your experimental data. Does
your result confirm the Law of Dulong and Petit?

b. Summary of Results
Prepare a summary table of results comparing your experimentally determined values of
the molar heat capacity for copper and aluminum to the average literature values and to
the Law’s predicted value of 26 J/molC.
Part III Calculations:
1. Temperature Changes.
Plot temperature versus time for the calorimeter and its contents after mixing. Extrapolate as
before and clearly indicate on the graph the maximum temperature at the instant of addition (time
zero). Follow directions from part 1 for making the graph.
Show the calculations for the change in temperature for the NaOH solution and for the HCl
solution.

Tsolution = Tf inal – Tinitial

For initial temperature, calculate the average of NaOH and HCl initial temperatures. Get Tf inal
from slope of the graph.

Here is a sample of what your graph will look like:

2. Experimental Enthalpy of Neutralization

a. Enthalpy of Reaction
Show the complete calculations of the heat evolved from the neutralization reaction
in joules. Since heat evolves (exothermic reaction), q will be negative.

qreaction = - (qsoln + q calorimeter)

qreaction = -(msoln x csoln x Tsoln + C calorimeter Tsolution )

qreaction = -(mass HCl + NaOH) (4.184 J/go C)( Tsolution)

get Tsolution from question 1 above

 b. Moles H+ Neutralized
From the masses of solutions used, calculate the number of moles of H+ actually
neutralized. Since the mass of the NaOH solution was somewhat different from that of
the HCl solution, this calculation will be a limiting reactant problem.

Need to find moles of limiting reactant:

density molarity mole ratio
g HCl → L HCl → moles HCl → moles H+

density molarity mole ratio mole ratio (1:1)

g NaOH → L NaOH → moles NaOH → moles HCl → moles H+

*note: use 1.00 g/mL for density for HCl & NaOH; molarities given in data table

c. Molar Enthalpy of Neutralization

Calculate the ΔH of neutralization which can be defined as the heat released by the
neutralization of exactly 1 mole of H+ and thus has the units of kJ/mol H+.

Hreaction = qreaction / mol

Use the moles of the limiting reactant for mol.

3. Summary of Results
Make a summary table of results comparing the enthalpy change for the neutralization of 1 mole
of H+ that you determined experimentally with the results of the two calculations of molar enthalpy
of neutralization from the Pre-Laboratory Assignment.

Post-lab: (type)
• Conclusion: Discuss your final result and express your opinion. Based on your
experiment, what can you conclude?

NOTE: The only part typed should be the conclusion (and the graphs). Everything else should be
hand-written. Convert the report to one pdf file and submit. Please check after submitting to make
sure that the report uploaded correctly.
 Pre-Laboratory Assignment:
Calorimetry and Thermochemical Measurements
Name_____________________________

1. Enthalpy of Neutralization Using the Un-ionized Equation

Using a table of standard enthalpies of formation in your text, calculate ΔH for

the neutralization reaction using the following un-ionized equation:
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l).

Clearly indicate the source of the standard enthalpies of formation that you
use. Enthalpies of formation are provided in reference sections of textbooks.
2. Enthalpy of Neutralization Using the Net Ionic Equation
a. Write the balanced equation for the chemical reaction in net ionic form.

b. Show the calculation of the change in enthalpy of neutralization based on the

net ionic equation, using enthalpies of formation for reactants and products,
obtained from your textbook, or from some other reference such as Lange's
Handbook. Clearly indicate the source you use.
 Data for Calorimetry and Thermochemical Measurements
Part I: Determination of the Heat Capacity of the Calorimeter

Description Assigned Data Value

0:38 mass of 2 Styrofoam cups
1:03 volume of cold water
1:24 temperature of cold water
1:38 Styrofoam cups + “cold” water
2:22 volume of “hot” water (water to be heated)
2:50 mass of beaker + 50 mL “hot” water (water to be heated)
4:57 temp of hot water as being heated (will not use this data)
5:07 temp of hot water as being heated (will not use this data)
5:24 temp of hot water after done heating (will not use this data)
5:48 temp. of “cold” water after 1 minute
5:52 temp. of “hot” water after 1 minute (will not use this data)
5:56 temp. of “cold” water after 2 minutes
6:00 temp. of “hot” water after 2 minutes (will not use this data)
6:12 temp. of “cold” water after 3 minutes
6:12 temp. of “hot” water after 3 minutes (will not use this data)
6:26 temp. of “cold” water after 4 minutes
6:28 temp. of “hot” water after 4 minutes (will not use this data)
7:10 temp. of “cold” water after 5 minutes
7:21 temp. of “hot” water after 5 minutes (right before mixing; use
this data for time = 0)
7:50 temperature of mixture 30 seconds after mixing
8:00 temperature of mixture 60 seconds (1 minute) after mixing
8:04 temperature of mixture 90 seconds (1.5 min) after mixing
8:21 temperature of mixture 120 seconds (2 min.) after mixing
8:34 temperature of mixture 150 seconds after mixing (7 minutes
in means 5 minutes before mixing; 2 minutes after)
8:39 temperature of mixture 180 seconds (3 min.) after mixing
8:52 temperature of mixture 210 seconds (3.5 min) after mixing
8:59 temperature of mixture 240 seconds (4 min) after mixing
9:07 temperature of mixture 270 seconds (4.5 min) after mixing
9:26 temperature of mixture 300 seconds (5 min) after mixing
9:41 mass of empty beaker that was used to measure “hot” water
at time 2:50
Part II: Determination of the Specific Heat of a Metal (copper)

Description Assigned Data Value

11:37 mass of copper
13:18 temperature of heating copper (don’t use this data)
14:20 mass of Styrofoam cups
14:30 volume of “cold” water 1st half
14:44 volume of “cold” water 2nd half (need total 100 mL so add
times 14:30 and 14:44 for volume of “cold” water used
15:03 mass of Styrofoam cup + 100 mL water
15:32 temperature of “hot” metal (will not use this data)
16:20 temperature of “hot” copper (will not use this data)
16:59 temperature of “cold” water at time = 1 minute (before mixing)
17:02 temperature of hot metal at time = 1 minute (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:23 temperature of “cold” water at time = 2 minutes (before mixing)
17:25 temperature of hot metal at time = 2 minutes (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:37 temperature of “cold” water at time = 3 minutes (before mixing)
17:39 temperature of hot metal at time = 3 minutes (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:45 temperature of “cold” water at time = 4 minutes (before mixing)
17:48 temperature of hot metal at time = 4 minutes (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:59 temperature of “cold” water at time = 5 minutes (before mixing)
18:01 temperature of hot metal right before mixing (Use this data at
time = 0)
18:32 temperature of mixture 30 seconds after mixing
18:40 temperature of mixture 60 seconds (1 minute) after mixing
18:48 temperature of mixture 90 seconds (1.5 minutes) after mixing
18:53 temperature of mixture 120 seconds (2 minutes) after mixing
18:57 temperature of mixture 150 seconds (2.5 minutes) after mixing
19:06 temperature of mixture 180 seconds (3 minutes) after mixing
19:18 temperature of mixture 90 seconds (3.5 minutes) after mixing
Part II: Determination of the Specific Heat of a Metal (aluminum)

Description Assigned Data Value

20:18 mass of aluminum
13:18 temperature of heating aluminum (don’t use this data)
14:20 mass of Styrofoam cups
14:30 volume of “cold” water 1st half
14:44 volume of “cold” water 2nd half (need total 100 mL so add
times 14:30 and 14:44 for volume of “cold” water used
15:03 mass of Styrofoam cup + 100 mL water
15:32 temperature of “hot” metal (will not use this data)
16:20 temperature of “hot” aluminum (will not use this data)
16:59 temperature of “cold” water at time = 1 minute (before mixing)
17:02 temperature of hot metal at time = 1 minute (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:23 temperature of “cold” water at time = 2 minutes (before
mixing)
17:25 temperature of hot metal at time = 2 minutes (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:37 temperature of “cold” water at time = 3 minutes (before
mixing)
17:39 temperature of hot metal at time = 3 minutes (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:45 temperature of “cold” water at time = 4 minutes (before
mixing)
17:48 temperature of hot metal at time = 4 minutes (before mixing)
(will not use this data)
17:59 temperature of “cold” water at time = 5 minutes (before
mixing)
18:01 temperature of hot metal right before mixing (Use this data at
time = 0)
18:32 temperature of mixture 30 seconds after mixing
18:40 temperature of mixture 60 seconds (1 minute) after mixing
18:48 temperature of mixture 90 seconds (1.5 minutes) after mixing
18:53 temperature of mixture 120 seconds (2 minutes) after mixing
18:57 temperature of mixture 150 seconds (2.5 minutes) after
mixing
19:06 temperature of mixture 180 seconds (3 minutes) after mixing
19:18 temperature of mixture 90 seconds (3.5 minutes) after mixing
Part III: Determination of the Enthalpy change for a Neutralization Reaction

Description Assigned Data Value

20:56 mass of Styrofoam cups

21:10 molarity of NaOH solution

21:21 volume of NaOH solution

21:47 mass of cups + NaOH solution

23:56 molarity of HCl solution

24:06 volume of HCl solution

24:31 temperature of NaOH in calorimeter

24:34 temperature of acid in beaker

25:09 temperature of mixture at 30 seconds

25:15 temperature of mixture at 60 seconds (1 minutes)

25:21 temperature of mixture at 90 seconds (1.5 minutes)

25:25 temperature of mixture at 120 seconds (2 minutes)

25:38 temperature of mixture at 150 seconds (2.5 minutes)

25:42 temperature of mixture at 180 seconds (3 minutes)

25:55 temperature of mixture at 210 seconds (3.5 minutes)

25:55 temperature of mixture at 240 seconds (4 minutes)

26:01 temperature of mixture at 270 seconds (4.5 minutes)

26:03 temperature of mixture at 300 seconds (5 minutes)

26:35 temperature of mixture at 30 seconds (5.5 minutes)

27:23 mass of Styrofoam cups + acid-base mixture