Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

Introduction: If there is a rise in temperature, the reaction is exothermic, and involves a

negative enthalpy change (- ∆H). If there is a drop in temperature, the reaction is
endothermic, and involves a positive enthalpy change (+ ∆H).

Enthalpy of solution: The enthalpy of solution is the enthalpy change when one mole of a

substance dissolves completely in water.
Research question: What factors affects the enthalpy of solution?

1. State a hypothesis that can be tested in this investigation. If a substance is dissolved in

water, then there will be a change in temperature either a rise or a fall.
2. Explain your hypothesis using scientific reasoning. For a substance to dissolve, the
intermolecular forces will require energy to break for it to change to a different states
from solid to liquid.

Figure 1: Apparatus set-up

Procedure

1. Pour 20 ml of distilled water into a Styrofoam cup

2. Measure and record the initial temperature of the distilled water in the styrofoam cup in
Table 1.
3. Add 2 g of ammonium nitrate crystals, NH4NO3 to 20 mL of water in the calorimeter
(Styrofoam cup).
4. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water until there is no further
change.
5. Record the results in Table 1.
6. Repeat the investigation using sodium hydroxide, NaOH pellets.

Safety: Wear goggles and lab coat. Environmental issues: Do not pour used and unused solutions in the
sink. Use liquid waste container in the fume cupboard. Chemicals can polute the environment affecting
habitat for organisms.

1
 Table 1: Results

Initial temperature Final temperature Change in temperature

of water of mixture
1. a) Ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3 28.5 18 -10.5
b) Ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3 x
c) Ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3 x
Average 28.5 18 -10.5
2. a) Sodium hydroxide, NaOH 28 41.5 +13.5
b) Sodium hydroxide, NaOH x
c) Sodium hydroxide, NaOH x
Average 28 41.5 +13.5

3. Show how you calculated the average change in temperature

4. State the independent variable in this investigation: Types of salt being dissolved.

5. State the dependent variable in this investigation: Enthalpy change of solution, change
in temperature.

6. State the control variables in this investigation: Same mass of salts, same volume of
water used, surface area of salts being used.
7. Using your results, do you reject or support your hypothesis? Explain your choice
Using the data provided, my hypothesis was correct and this is supported by the
data since in the first experiment there was a temperature increase whilst the other
experiment, there was a temperature decrease.

8. State any weakness in the procedure used in this investigation……………………………

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9. Suggest improvements that can be done to the procedure to make the results more
reliable………………………………………………………………………………………
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