BACHELOR OF PHARMACY

(HONOURS)

GENERAL CHEMISTRY

BP23, SEMESTER 1

PRACTICAL

Experiment Title: Thermochemistry

Student Name:

Student ID:

Date of Submission:
SAFETY ASSESSMENT

Before proceeding with the experiment, a brief safety assessment must be completed
with reference to the COSHH safety data sheets (Tick the appropriate boxes).

Carcinogenic
Flammable

Corrosive
Oxidising

Harmful

Irritant
Toxic
Chemical Name

Hydrochloric Acid, HCl

Magnesium Ribbon, Mg

MgO

MgCO3
Special Requirements / Other:

Hydrochloric Acid, HCl

1. Do not dispose the HCl into the drain directly.
2. Do not store HCl solution by using metal container
3. Make sure the container which used to store HCl is tightly closed.
4. Avoid HCl from heat sources.

Disposal
Hydrochloric Acid, HCl
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

(A) Heat Capacity of Styrofoam cup

Sample Mass, m (g) Temperature, T (oC)

1 2 Mean 1 2 Mean
Cold water
Hot water
Final solution after mixing

Calculation of the Heat Capacity of Styrofoam Cup

mhot ×4.184 ×T fall=(mcold ×4.184 ×T rise )+(c ×T rise )

× 4.184 ×()=(× 4.184 ×)+( c ×)

c=¿
−1
c ≈J℃ g

(B) Determination of ∆H1

Sample Mass, m (g) Temperature, T (oC)

1 2 Mean 1 2 Mean
1 M HCl
Mg (s)
Final solution after mixing

Mg + 2H Mg2+ + H2
Ar Mg
q 1=(mfinal × 4.184 × T rise ) ∆ H 1 =−q ×
m Mg
24.31
∆ H 1 =−×
q 1=(× 4.184 ×) ❑

q 1 ≈ kJ ∆ H 1 =¿
∆ H 1 ≈ kJ /mol
(C) Determination of ∆H2

Sample Mass, m (g) Temperature, T (oC)

1 2 Mean 1 2 Mean
1 M HCl
MgO (s)
Final solution after mixing

MgO+2 HCl → Mg Cl2 + H 2 O

Ar MgO
q 2=(mfinal × 4.184 × T rise ) ∆ H 2 =−q ×
mMg

q 2=(× 4.184 ×) 40.30

∆ H 2 =−×
❑
q 2 ≈ kJ ∆ H 2 =¿
∆ H 2 =kJ /mol

(D) Determination of ∆H3

Sample Mass, m (g) Temperature, T (oC)

1 2 Mean 1 2 Mean
1 M HCl
MgCO3 (s)
Final solution after mixing

MgC O3+2 HCl → Mg Cl2 + H 2 O+ CO2

Ar MgC O
q 3=(mfinal × 4.184 × T rise ) ∆ H 3 =−q × 3

mMgC O 3

q 3=(×4.184 ×) 84.31
∆ H 3 =−×
❑
q 3 ≈ kJ ∆ H 3 =¿
∆ H 3 =kJ /mol
 Practical Assessment Questions:
1. By using Hess’s law, calculate the standard enthalpy of formation, ∆Hf of MgO (s) and
MgCO3 (s).

Given that the standard enthalpy of formation of H 2O (l) and CO2 (g) are -286 and -394 kJ
mol-1, respectively.

H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ∆Ha = -286 kJ mol-1

C (s, graphite) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g) ∆Hb = -394 kJ mol-1

2. Use your results and Hess’s Law to calculate ∆H for the following reaction.

MgO (s) + CO2 (g) → MgCO3 (s)

3. Obtain the literature values for the heats of formation of MgO (s) and MgCO3 (s).

Briefly list the main sources of error in this experiment.