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Solution Calorimetry:
Determination of Standard Heat of formation of MgO

Farron Woods

Date of experiment: Done by Professor

Date of submission: 11/28/14

Abstract
In this experiment, an instrument called the Parr 6755 solution calorimeter was
used to collect different temperatures of the reaction. The literature value for the heat of
formation of water and heat capcities of Mg and MgO were used to calculate the heat of
formation of MgO. The enthalpy for MgO was calculated to be 601.24 kJ/mol. The
percent error turned out to be 54.8%. Since the overall heat of formation of MgO was
negative, the reaction was concluded to be exothermic.

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Introduction
In this experiment, a calorimetry was calibrated, while using Hess's Law to find the
heat of formation of MgO. Hess's Law states that the enthalpy change of a reaction is the
same whether it occurs in one step or many steps. The enthalpy change of a chemical
reaction (Hrxn) known as the heat of reaction represented the amount of heat gained or
lost in the reaction. In order to measure the enthalpy of reaction a calorimeter was used,
which was well insulated to prevent heat transfer between the reaction and its surroundings.
The standard enthalpy of formation was given the symbol Hf, which was determined for
MgO using the calorimetry technique. Heat of reaction was determined by the reversal and
addition of the enthalpies of three reactions below:
1
2

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) = MgCl2 + H2(g)

MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) = MgCl2 + H2O(l)

The heat of formation of water :H2(g) + O2(g) = H2O(l)

(H2O)

Hess's Law was used to show the heat of formation for MgO:
f

(MgO) = f(H2O) + 1 - 2

Experiment
Three trials were carried out, the first trial the Par 6755 solution calorimeter was
standardized using Tris. The second and third trials, the reactions of Mg and MgO with HCl
solution was studied. For each reaction a sample size of 100 mL 0.5 M HCl solution was
used. The HCl solution was loaded into the Dewar and the solid reactant was loaded into
the rotating cell. The reaction was initiated by pressing downward on the push rod to drop
the solid sample out of the rotating cell. The temperature was recorded every thirty minutes
for ten minutes each period. During the reaction period, the temperature increased
significantly as an exothermic reaction. During the post period, the solution was stablized
due to continuous stirring. The above steps were repeated for the second and third runs. The
entire experiment was performed by the professor due to complications with the data
extractions from the 6755 solution calorimeter. The detailed procedure could be found from
Physical Chemistry Laboratory Manual [1].

Results

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Graph 1- Graph 3 show the temperatures versus time. Table 1 show the initial and final
temperatures of each run and the weight and volume of each solution.
Run 1
11
10
9
8
7
6
Temperature (Celsius)

5
4
3
2
1
0
0

9 10 11

Time (1,2,3)

T
Ti

Graph 1
Run 2

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11
10
9
8
7
6
Temperature in Celsius

5
4
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Time (1,2,3)

T
Ti

Graph 2
Run 3

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11
10
9
8
7
6
Temperature in Celsius

5
4
3
2
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Time (1,2,3)

T
Ti

Graph 3

Raw
Data

Mass of Tris
(g)

Trial 1

1.2531

Trial 2

Trial 3

Mass of
Mg(g)

Mass of
MgO(g)

0.264

0.403

0.50 HCl
solution

Initial Temp
(C)

Final Temp
(C)

100 mL

20.7

21.3

100 mL

22.7

31.6

100 mL

21.8

24.3

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Table 1

Trial 1:
The change in temperature was calculated by subtracting the final and initial temperature in
each trial.
T = Tfinal - Tinitial
T = 21.3 C -20.7 C = 0.60 C
To find heat capacity, the following formula was used:
q = mcT
q = 100 g HCl x 4.184 J/gC x 0.60 C
q = 251.0 J= 0.2510 kJ
Tris in mols = 1.2531 g = 0.01034 mol of

The change in enthalpy was calculated using the following formula:

H = -q
H= -0.2510 kJ
= -24.27 kJ/mol

Trial 2:
Mg(s) + 2H+(aq) Mg2+(aq) + H2 (g)

T = Tfinal - Tinitial
T = 31.6 C -22.7 C = 8.9 C

= 0.0109 mol Mg

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q = mcT
q = 100 g HCl x 4.184 J/gC x 8.9 C
q = 3723J = 3.724 kJ

H = -q
H= -3.724 kJ
-3.724/ 0.0109 mol = -91.74 kJ/mol

Trial 3:
MgO(s) + 2H+(aq) H2O (l) + Mg2+(aq)
T = Tfinal - Tinitial
T = 24.3 C -21.8 C = 2.5C

= 0.010 mol MgO

q = mcT
q = 100 g HCl x 4.184 J/gC x 2.5C
q = 1046 J or 1.046 kJ

H = -q
H= -1.046 kJ
= -104.6 kJ/mol

Mg + 1/2O2 MgO

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Tthese equations and their enthalpies were used to find the enthalpy for the equation above.
The values of enthalpies were found in Elements of Physical Chemistry. [2]
Mg(s) + 2H+(aq) Mg2+(aq) + H2 (g)
H2O (l) + Mg2+(aq) MgO(s) + 2H+(aq)
H2 + 1/2O2 H2O

H = -104.6 kJ/mol
H =+91.74 kJ/mol
H= -258.8 kJ/mol

By combing these values, the enthalpy for the following reaction was determined.
Mg + 1/2O2 MgO
Hf= -271.7 kJ/mol
The enthalpy of formation of liquid H2O has been measured and is given by:
Hrxn(4) = Hf(H2O) = 285840 Joules/mole = 285.84 kJ/mol
This value was found in Elements of Physical Chemistry and used to calculate the Hf for
MgO which was -271.7 kJ/mol. [2]
The literature value of Hf for MgO was given to be 601.24 kJ/mol. It was found using
Elements of Physical Chemistry. [2] This value was compared to the experimental value of
heat formation for MgO to find the percent error.
Sample calculation:
Hf for MgO= -271.7 kJ/mol
Literature value = 601.24 kJ/mol
|Approximate Value Exact Value|

100%
|Exact Value|

= = 54.8%

Discussion

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The heat of formation of water was given and used to calculate the heat of
formation for Mg and MgO. The literature value for the heat of formation of water and heat
capcities of Mg and MgO were used to calculate the heat of formation of MgO. The
enthalpy for MgO was calculated to be 601.24 kJ/mol. The percent error turned out to be
54.8%. Since the overall heat of formation of MgO was negative, the reaction was
concluded to be exothermic. Possible sources of error could have been from improper lab
technique when weighing the solid reactants. Overall, the data supported the fact that the
reaction was exothermic due to the negative heat of formation value for MgO.

References

1. Zhang, Jian H. "Solution Calorimetry. Physical Chemistry Laboratory Manual. 7th

ed. Fall 2014. Pg. 15-17. Print.