Name__________________________________________ Date________________ Period______

Lab Partner(s) ___________________________________________________________________

Lab: Heats of Reaction

Background:
Energy changes occur in all chemical reactions. Energy is either absorbed or released.
If energy is released in the form of heat, the reaction is called exothermic. If energy is
absorbed, the reaction is called endothermic. In this experiment, you will measure the
amounts of heat released in these three related exothermic reactions:

Reaction 1: Na(OH)(s)  Na+(aq) + OH-(aq)

Reaction 2: Na+(aq) + OH-(aq) + H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) H2O(l) + Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq)

Reaction 3: Na(OH)(s) + H+(aq ) H2O(l) + Na+(aq)

After determining the heats of reaction, you will analyze your data and verify the additive
nature of heats of reaction.

Purpose: To measure the heat released (∆H) in three different exothermic reactions and to
demonstrate that heats of reactions are additive using Hess’s Law.

Materials:
Styrofoam cup Apron
100mL graduated cylinder Goggles
400mL beaker 1.0 M NaOH solution
Thermometer 0.5 M HCl solution
Balance 1.0 M HCl solution
NaOH pellets

Safety:
 HCl and NaOH are eye and skin irritants. DO NOT touch these substances.
 Clean up all spills immediately and let your teacher know of any accidents that occur.

Procedure:

Reaction 1:
1. Measure 100.0 mL of distilled water in your graduated cylinder. Carefully pour this
into the Styrofoam cup. (Place the cup inside a 400 or 600 mL beaker for support.)
2. Place a weighing dish on the balance and tare it (zero it). Add approximately 2 grams
of solid sodium hydroxide (NaOH) pellets to the dish and record your exact mass.
3. Measure and record the temperature of the water in the Styrofoam cup to the nearest
tenth of a degree.
4. Add the NaOH pellets to the cup and stir the mixture gently with the thermometer,
until all the solid has dissolved.
5. Record the highest temperature reached during the reaction.

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Reaction 2:
1. Measure 50.0 mL of 1.0 M HCl in a graduated cylinder. Carefully pour this into the
Styrofoam cup.
2. Rinse the graduated cylinder and measure out 50.0 mL of 1.0 M NaOH into the
graduated cylinder.
3. Measure and record the temperature of the HCl solution in the cup to the nearest tenth
of a degree.
4. Rinse the thermometer and measure and record the temperature of the NaOH solution
in the graduated cylinder.
5. Pour the NaOH solution into the cup. Stir the mixture gently and record the highest
temperature reached.

Reaction 3:
1. Rinse your graduated cylinder out. Measure 100.0 mL of 0.5 M HCl in a graduated
cylinder. Carefully pour this into the Styrofoam cup.
2. Place a weighing dish on the balance and tare it (zero it). Add approximately 2 grams
of solid sodium hydroxide (NaOH) pellets to the dish and record your exact mass.
3. Measure and record the temperature of the HCl solution in the cup.
4. Add the NaOH pellets to the cup and stir the mixture gently with the thermometer,
until all the solid has dissolved.
5. Record the highest temperature reached during the reaction.

Reaction 1:
Reaction 1 1. Calculate the temperature change (ΔT) for the
Mass of NaOH reaction.
Initial temperature
Final temperature

2. Assuming the mass(m) of the reaction mixture = 100.0 g, and the specific heat (c) =
1.000 cal/g°C, calculate the heat (q) released by the reaction using the formula q =
mc(ΔT)

3. Convert the grams of NaOH used to moles using the molar mass of NaOH.

4. Divide q/mol NaOH to get the heat of the reaction 1 (ΔH1).

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 Reaction 2 Reaction 2:
Initial temp (HCl)
Initial temp (NaOH) 1. Calculate the temperature change (ΔT) for
Average initial temp the reaction.
Final temperature

2. Assuming the mass (m) of the reaction mixture =100.0 g, and the specific heat (c) =
1.000 cal/g°C, calculate the heat (q) released by the reaction using the formula q =
mc(ΔT).

3. Multiply the molarity of the NaOH (1.0M = 1.0mol/L) solution by its volume (in Liters)
to get the moles of NaOH.

4. Divide q/mol NaOH to get the heat of the reaction 2 (ΔH2).

Reaction 3:

Reaction 3 1. Calculate the temperature change (ΔT) for the

Mass of NaOH reaction.
Initial temperature
Final temperature

2. Assuming the mass(m) of the reaction mixture = 100.0 g, and the specific heat (c) =
1.00 cal/g°C, calculate the heat (q) released by the reaction using the formula q =
mc(ΔT).

3. Convert the grams of NaOH used to moles using the molar mass of NaOH.

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4. Divide q/mol NaOH to get the heat of the reaction 3 (ΔH3).

Questions:

1. In your own words, explain Hess’ Law.

2. Write out the net ionic equations from the reactions in the background section. Prove
that reaction 1 + reaction 2 = reaction 3. (Show your cross outs!)

3. a) Add up ΔH1 + ΔH2. Does this equal ΔH3? b) What factors might account for any
differences?

4. Using (ΔH1 + ΔH2) as the experimental value and (ΔH3) as the accepted value, calculate
your percent error.

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