Laboratory Report: Hess Law in Practice

Introduction:
Overview:
The Y1 chemistry class conducted an experiment with aim to calculate the enthalpy
change for the decomposition of potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3 --> K2CO3(s) +CO2(g) +H2O(l)).
Since, there is not a sufficient experimental way to calculate this value directly, the help of Hess
law was used. Two separate reactions were conducted in order to determine the value asked. The
fact that both potassium bicarbonate and potassium carbonate react with HCl(aq) enables drawing
a Born-Haber cycle which is the key in determining enthalpy change for the decomposition of
potassium bicarbonate.

Safety:
During the experiment safety precautions were taken into consideration since it is know
that KHCO3(s) and HCl(aq) may cause irritation. The students conducting the experiment wore
safety googles and lab coats which sufficiently ensured their safety.

Equipment:
-

2.0M HCl(aq)
Solid potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3(s))
Solid potassium carbonate (K2CO3(s) )
Polystyrene cup
Burette
Digital Mass balance
Spatula
Thermometer

Variables
-

m(plastic)= 0.962 +- 0.001g

m(plastic + KHCO3)=3.967 +- 0.001g
m(plastic KHCO3)=0.964 +- 0.001g
m(KHCO3)= 3.003 +- 0.003g
M(KHCO3)=100.12 g/moll
C(HCL)=2.0M
V(HCL)=20.00 +-0.04ml
m(plastic2)=0.963 +- 0.001g
m(plastic+K2CO3)=3.969+-0.001g
m(plastic-K2CO3)=0.965+-0.001g
m(K2CO3)=3.004+-0.003g
M(K2CO3)= 138.3 g/moll

Method:
Process:
-

Weight exactly 3 grams of KHCO3

Pipette 20ml of HCl with concentration of 2M
Record the initial temperature
Mix the carbonate with the acid
Record the change in temperature every 15s for 5 minutes
Repeat with K2CO3

To determine the

of decomposition of potassium hydrogen carbonate (

KHCO3(s)) the concepts of Hess Law and Born-Haber cycle are used. Hess law states
that the change in enthalpy is independent of of the pathway the reaction went
through between the initial and final states. The reaction can be described as
follows:

H 1 2 KHC O3 ( s) K 2 C O3 ( s) +C O2 (g ) + H 2 O (g)
Both KHCO3 and K2CO3 react with HCl(aq)

H 2 KHC O3(s )+ HC l (aq ) KC l(s) +C O2()+ H 2 O(l )

H 3 K 2 C O3 (s) +2 HC l (aq) 2 KC l (s) +C O2 ( )+ H 2 O(l)
2 KHC O3 (s ) K 2 C O3 ( s) +C O 2 ( g) + H 2 O(g )

+2 HCl+ 2 HCl
H2 H3
2KCl+2H 2O(l)+2CO2() 2KCl + H2O(l)+CO2()+H2O(l)+CO2()

H 1=2 H 2 + H 3

Calculation for H 2 2 KHC O3 (s) +2 HC l (aq) 2 KC l (s) +2 C O2() +2 H 2 O(l )

-

Mass of KHCO3(s)=3.003+-0.003g
Concentration of HCl = 2M
Volume of HCl = 20.00+-0.04ml

Tinitial=25 .0 0.5

Tpeak= 15.0 0.5

T=10 .0 1.0 ( 10.0 )

T of KHCO3+HCl
30
20

Temperature

10
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Time(s)

Table 1: The T of reaction occurring ( 2 KHC O 3(s) +2 HC l(aq)

-

c=4.18 J/Kmol
n=0.2967 mol
mwater=20 +- 0.2%g

H 2=

20104.18 228.18 kJ
=
=56.36 10.3 kJ /mol
0.2967
mol

Calculation for H 3 H 3 K 2 C O 3(s )+ 2 HC l(aq) 2 KC l (s) +C O 2() + H 2 O(l)

-

Mass of K2CO3= 3.004+-0.003g

n= 0.0217 mol
Volume of HCl = 20.00+-0.04ml

Tinitial=25 .0 0.5

Tpeak= 33.0 0.5

T=8 .0 1.0 ( 12.5 )

T of K2CO3+HCl
35
30
25
20

Temperature ( C )

Temperature 15

Linear (Temperature ( C ))

10
5
0

100

200

300

400

Time(s)

Table 2: The T of reaction occurring ( K 2 HC O 3 (s ) + HC l (aq)

-

c=4.18 J/Kmol
n=0.0217 mol

H3=

204.188
=30.8 12.8%kJ /mol
0.0217

Calculation for H 1 2 KHC O3 ( s) K 2 C O3 (s )+ C O2 (g )+ H 2 O(g)

H 1=2 H 2 + H 3 =
256.36 10.3

kJ
kJ
kJ
kJ
+30.8 12.8
=256.36 5.81
+30.8 3.9 4
=106.9 1
mol
mol
mol
mol

5.6kJ/mol
Htheretical=+95.3 kJ/mol

H experimental
100 =89.1
H theoretical

Evaluation
During the write up for this lab report I was able to see several errors in my
experiment. The first one and according to me the most important, is the lack of
consistency on my initial Temperature. The failure to record the temperature for
more than 30 s before the start of the experiment highlights the lack of
understanding the basic concept of the experiments. To improve upon this mistake, I

would suggest recording the temperature at least for 2 and half minutes before the
start of the experiment. Other errors can be recognized during this experiment.
Firstly, conducting the experiment, the basic assumption made is that there is no
energy loss to the surrounding. A way to improve this error is to use a closed system
(an insulated system where the energy loss to the surrounding will be negligible).
Second assumption made is that the specific heat capacity of the polystyrene cup is
negligible and is not taken into consideration during the experiment. A suggested
improvement, would be obviously to take the specific heat capacity of the
polystyrene cup into consideration. Furthermore, we did not include the mass of the
salts, and the overall yield of the reaction. Finally, comparing my final result with
the theoretical value