Energetics Exam Questions

Q1. A student investigated the neutralisation of acids by measuring the temperature changes when alkalis
were added to acids of known concentrations. He used this apparatus to add different volumes of sodium
hydroxide solution to a fixed volume of dilute nitric acid.

He used this method.

∙ measure the temperature of 25.0 cm3 of the acid in the polystyrene cup

∙ add the sodium hydroxide solution in 5.0 cm3 portions until a total of 30.0 cm3 has
been added

(a) State two properties of the sodium hydroxide solution that should be kept constant for
each 5.0 cm3 portion.
(2)

1 .............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
2 .............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(c) The student carried out the experiment three times. The table shows his results.

The teacher said that only the results for experiment 3 showed the expected changes in temperature.
(i) Why was there no temperature decrease in experiment 1?
(1)
A The alkali was added too quickly
B The starting temperature of the acid was too high
C The acid concentration was half what it should have been
D The volume of acid used was 50.0 cm3 instead of 25.0 cm3

(ii) Why were the temperature increases in experiment 2 much greater than expected?
(1)
A The starting temperature of the acid was too high
B The acid concentration was double what it should have been
C The volume of acid used was 50.0 cm3 instead of 25.0 cm3
 D The alkali was added in 10.0 cm3 portions but were recorded as 5.0 cm3 portions
(d) Plot the results of experiment 3 on the grid.

Draw a straight line of best fit through the first four points, and another straight line of best fit through the
last three points. Make sure that the two lines cross.
(4)

(e) The point where the lines cross indicates the volume of alkali added to exactly neutralise the acid and
also the maximum temperature reached.
Record these values.
(2)
3
volume of alkali.............................................................................................. cm

maximum temperature.............................................................................................. °C
(Total for Question = 10 marks)
Q2. Butane (C4H10) is a gas at room temperature and pressure. The equation for the complete combustion
of butane is

Butane is used in an experiment to determine its ΔH of combustion.

(a) State what the symbol ΔH represents.

(1)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(b) The table shows the results of the experiment.

Use this equation to calculate the heat produced when 0.725 g of butane is burned in this experiment.

(3)

heat produced = ........................................................... J

(c) A student uses the value from part (b) to calculate ΔH for the combustion of butane.

He calculates it as 1580 kJ/mol. He has not made a mistake in his calculation.

A data book value is 2887 kJ/mol.
(i) What is the significance of the negative sign for ΔH?
(1)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(ii) The student notices that at the end of the experiment the bottom of the beaker is covered in black
soot (carbon).
Suggest how this soot is formed.
(1)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(iii) Explain how the formation of the soot may account for the difference between the value of ΔH from
the experiment and the value of ΔH in the data book.
(1)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(iv) Suggest one other reason why the two ΔH values are different.
(1)
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
(Total for question = 8 marks)
Q3. A student burned four liquid fuels in order to compare the amount of energy they released, in the form
of heat. She used similar apparatus to that used in question 2
The energy released when each fuel was burned was used to raise the temperature of 100 g of water.
For each fuel, the student recorded the mass of fuel burned and the increase in temperature of the water.
Her results are shown in the table.

The best fuel is the one that releases the most energy.
(a) The student suggested that petrol was the best fuel. Explain why, using the information in the table.
(1)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................

(b) Another student suggested that diesel was the best fuel. Explain why, using the information in the
table.
(1)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
(c) In another experiment, a student burned propanol and then used his results to calculate the energy
released when one mole of propanol was burned. He then compared his result with a value from a data
book. The values are shown in the table.

Suggest two reasons why the student's result is lower than the data book value.
(2)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
 (Total for question = 8 marks)

Q3.