School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences

1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

Paper No.2

Calorimetry: Determining the Heat Capacity of

the Styrofoam Cup

Submitted by:

Group No. 7

Group Members:
1. Ugalde, Winsleth Julie Reese Q.
2. Salamero, Ellaine Kirstine L.
3. Tan, Sydney Royce S.

Submitted to:

Edna J. Calderon
Instructor

CM110L11 / A19
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences
1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

INTRODUCTION

The students conducted the laboratory activity to be able to understand and apply their
knowledge towards Calorimetry. The fundamental concept of calorimetry is the ability to
measure the amount of heat absorbed or lost by the surroundings and also to determine
the amount of heat absorbed or lost by the system.

In this experiment, a Styrofoam-cup calorimeter is used as a method to be able to

comprehend the constant-pressure calorimeter. Subsequently, the heat neutralization of
the calorimeter using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide was also conducted. As
the assumption of knowing if the Styrofoam cup is an insulated system or not.

METHODOLOGY

In preparing the calorimeters for the experiment, two sets of styrofoam cups, two
insulated stoppers, and two thermometers with the same calibrations were utilized. The
styrofoam cups were sealed with insulated stoppers, which had holes in the center for
the thermometer. Each set of cups was then placed on a beaker to make them easier to
handle and secure. The experiment began with the determination of heat capacity of the
Styrofoam cup calorimeter. First, a 50 mL of cold distilled water was placed in
Calorimeter 1. The calorimeter was covered and a thermometer was placed through the
hole in the stopper to measure the temperature for one minute. Then, a 50 mL of hot
water (between 60-70 °C) was placed in Calorimeter 2 and its temperature was
measured by also immersing the thermometer for a minute. Then, the hot water from
Calorimeter 2 was poured into the cold water in Calorimeter 1. The mixture was
immediately covered and the thermometer was placed through the hole to measure the
highest temperature reached. This experiment was repeated in two trials.

The heat capacity of the calorimeter (J/°C) was determined through a systematic
process. Firstly, the change in temperature (ΔT) of cold water was calculated by
subtracting its final temperature from its initial temperature. The same process was
repeated to calculate the temperature change (ΔT) of hot water. Then, the heat gained
by the cold water was determined by converting 50 mL of water to grams, then
multiplying it by the specific heat of water (4.18 J/g °C) and the temperature change
(ΔT) of the cold water. The same process was used to compute the heat lost by hot
water, but the sign of the computed value is negative. Next, the heat gained by
Calorimeter 1 was obtained by adding the computed values of heat gained by the cold
water and heat lost by the hot water. The heat capacity of the calorimeter was then
computed by dividing the heat gained by the calorimeter to the temperature change
(ΔT) of the cold water. Finally, the average heat capacity of the calorimeter was
obtained by adding the heat capacity of Trials 1 and 2 and dividing the sum by 2.
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences
1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

In the second part of the experiment, 50 mL 1.0 M hydrochloric acid solution, 50 mL 1.0
M sodium hydroxide solution, and the two styrofoam cups were utilized. A 50 mL of
1.0M sodium hydroxide solution was placed into Calorimeter 1 and covered with an
insulated stopper. Alongside is the thermometer placed in the hole of the stopper to
measure the temperature of the solution for a minute. Then, 50 mL of 1.0 M
hydrochloric acid was poured into Calorimeter 2. It was covered with an insulated
stopper, and the temperature was also measured for a minute. After a minute, the
hydrochloric acid sodium was poured into the Calorimeter 1 containing sodium
hydroxide solution. The mixed solution was gently swirled and covered, and then the
temperature was measured as the temperature stopped changing. This experiment was
repeated in two trials.

In computing the heat of Neutralization, several steps were followed. The temperature
change of the mixture (ΔTmix) was calculated by subtracting the final temperature to the
initial temperature of the reaction. Then, the heat gained by the mixture was obtained by
multiplying the mass of the mixture, the specific heat of the mixture (assume the same
as the water),and temperature change of the mixture (ΔTmix). The heat gained by the
calorimeter was then computed by multiplying the computed Heat capacity of the
calorimeter (obtained from the first part of the experiment) to the temperature change of
the mixture (ΔTmix). The Heat of Neutralization was then obtained by adding the heat
gained by the mixture and heat gained by the calorimeter. Next, the moles of water
formed from the reaction was determined by converting the molar concentration of the
solution (sodium hydroxide) to moles then converting to moles of H2O or water. Then,
the Heat of Neutralization per mole of water formed was calculated by dividing the
computed values of heat of neutralization to the moles of water formed from the
reaction. Lastly, the average Heat of Neutralization was determined by adding Heat of
Neutralization (ΔHneut) per mole of water formed of Trials 1 and 2, and dividing the sum
by 2.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Determination of Heat Capacity of Calorimeter

Trial 1 Trial 2

Temperature of Cold Water 30 °C 30 °C

Temperature of Hot Water 62 °C 64 °C

Final Temperature 46 °C 48 °C
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences
1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

In both trials, the temperature of cold water and hot water were both collected.

Trial 1 Trial 2

Δtcold 16 °C 18 °C

Δthot -16 °C -16 °C

Δtcold and Δthot were both calculated using the formula: Δt Tfinal - Tinitial

Trial 1: Δtcold = 46 °C - 30 °C = 16 °C Trial 2: Δtcold = 48 °C - 30 °C = 18 °C

Trial 1: Δthot = 46 °C - 62 °C = -16 °C Trial 2: Δthot = 48 °C - 64 °C = -16 °C

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Lost by Hot Water -3.34E3 J -3.34E3 J

In both trials, the calculated heat lost by hot water was the same. The heat lost by hot
water was calculated using this formula: qhot = mhot * s * Δthot

(50g)(4.18 J/g °C)(-16 °C) = -3.34E3 J

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Gained by Cold Water 3.34E3 J 3.76E3 J

Using the same formula used in calculating the heat lost by hot water, we calculated the
heat gained by cold water: qcold = mcold * s * Δtcold

Trial 1: (50g)(4.18 J/g°C)(16°C) = 3.34E3 J Trial 2: (50g)(4.18 J/g°C)(18°C) = 3.76E3 J

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Gained by Calorimeter 0J 420 J

Using the formula: qcal = - ( qhot - qcold), we calculated the heat gained by calorimeter in
both trials.
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences
1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

Trial 1: - (-3.34E3 J) - (3.34E3 J) = 0 J Trial 2:- (-3.34E3J) - (3.76E3J) = 420 J

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Capacity of Calorimeter 0 J/°C 23.3 J/°C

Average Heat Capacity of Calorimeter 11.651 J/°C

Using the formula Ccal = qcal/Δtcold, we calculate the heat capacity of calorimeter.

Trial 1: 0 J / 16 °C = 0 J/°C Trial 2: 420 J / 18 °C = 23.3 J/°C

We then get the average of both quotients:

Average Ccal: [(0)+(23.3)] / 2 = 11.651 J/°C

Heat of Neutralization

Trial 1 Trial 2

Temperature of NaOH 34 °C 36 °C

Temperature of HCl 34 °C 32 °C

Average Initial Temperature of Acid 34 °C 34 °C

and Base

Final Temperature 42 °C 40 °C

In the table above the temperature of Naoh and HCl are shown. The average initial
temperature of acid and base and the final temperature of both substances are also
shown here.

Trial 1 Trial 2

Δtmix 8 °C 6 °C

Qmix is calculated using the formula: Qmix = mmix * s * Δtmix.

Trial 1: 42 °C - 34 °C = 8 °C Trial 2: 40 °C - 34 °C = 6 °C
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences
1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Gained by Mixture 3.34E3 J 2.51E3 J

Using this formula: Qmix = mmix * s * Δtmix, we calculate the heat gained by mixture.

Trial 1: 100g * 4.18 J/g°C * 8 °C = 3.34E3 J

Trial 2: 100g * 4.18 J/g°C * 6 °C = 2.51E3 J

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Gained by Calorimeter -93.2 J -69.9 J

Use formula: qcal= CΔtmix, to calculate the heat gained by calorimeter.

Trial 1: 11.65 J/°C * 8 °C = -93.2 J Trial 2: 11.65 J/°C * 6 °C = -69.9 J

Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat of Neutralization - 3433.2 J - 2440.1 J

Calculate the heat of neutralization by adding the heat gained by mixture and the heat
gained by the calorimeter.

Trial 1: -[(3.34E3 J) + (93.2 J)] = -3433.2 J

Trial 2: -[(2.51E3 J) + (69.9 J)] = -2440.1 J

Trial 1 Trial 2

Moles of Water Formed 0.050 mol

Calculate the moles of water using this formula:

0.050 mol NaoH * (1mol H20 / 1mol NaOH) = 0.050 mol H20 moles

Trial 1 Trial 2
 School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering and Sciences
1rd Quarter S.Y. 2023-2024

Heat of Neutralization -68.67 kJ -48.80 kJ

Average of ΔHneut -58 kJ

Calculate the heat of neutralization per mole of water by dividing the moles of water
from the heat of neutralization.

Trial 1: (0.050 mol) / (-3433.2 J) = -68664 J or -68.67 kJ

Trial 1: (0.050 mol) / (-2440.1 J) = -48802 J or -48.80 kJ

Then get the average of both quotients:

Average of ΔHneut = [(-68.86 kJ)+(-48.80 kJ)] / 2 = -58 kJ

CONCLUSION

Considering all of these, we conclude that the styrofoam cup is a perfect insulated
system as there is no heat that goes in and out of the system and no work done on or
by the system. In addition, it cannot allow the the exchange of heat between the system
and the surrounding.

REFERENCES

Flowers, P., Theopold, K., Langley, R., & William R. Robinson, P. (n.d.).5.2 calorimetry -
chemistry 2E. OpenStax.
https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/5-2-calorimetry#:~:text=Calorimetry%20i
s%20used%20to%20measure,by%20the%20process%20under%20study.