7.20.

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Student required practical 18

Investigating temperature changes

Specification references:
 Required practical 18: Investigate the variables that affect temperature changes in reacting
solutions, such as acid plus metals, acid plus carbonates, neutralisations, displacement of metals.
 AT 1, 3, 5, 6
 7.3.3 Energy changes and reactions
 WS 2.1─2.7, MS 1a, 2a, 2b, 4a, 4c

Aims
In this required practical, you will monitor the temperature change of a chemical
reaction to classify it as exothermic or endothermic.

Learning outcomes
After completing this practical, you should be able to:
 define exothermic and endothermic reactions
 safely complete a calorimetry experiment for a reaction that takes
place in solution
 state if a chemical reaction is exothermic or endothermic based on
observations for a calorimetry experiment
 describe solution reactions with word equations.

Safety
 sodium hydroxide: CORROSIVE
 hydrochloric acid: IRRITANT
 potassium hydroxide: CORROSIVE
 copper(II) sulfate solution: HARMFUL/ IRRITANT/ CORROSIVE
 moderately concentrated nitric acid: CORROSIVE
 wear chemical splash-proof eye protection and wash hands after the practical.

Equipment
 eye protection  stirrer
 two 50 cm3 measuring cylinders  stopwatch
 polystyrene cup  1.00 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid
 250 cm3 beaker  1.00 mol/dm3 moderately concentrated nitric
 weighing boat acid
 balance  1.00 mol/dm3 sodium hydroxide
 spatula  iron filings
 0–110 °C thermometer  1.00 mol/dm3 potassium hydroxide
 1.00 mol/dm3 copper(II) sulfate solution.

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This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 1
 7.20.4
Student required practical 18

Setting the scene

In a chemical reaction a new substance is made. If the reactants have more
energy than the products, energy is released to the surroundings as the chemical
reaction happens. If the reactants have less energy than the products, energy is
taken in from the surroundings during the chemical reaction.
Exothermic reactions cause the temperature of the reaction to increase.
Endothermic reactions cause the temperature of the reaction to decrease.
One method for monitoring reactions in solutions is to use calorimetry. A
polystyrene cup is well insulated and can be used to hold the reaction. Using a
thermometer, the temperature at the start, during, and at the end of the reaction
can be recorded. If the temperature has increased, the reaction is exothermic.
If the temperature has decreased, then the reaction is endothermic.
You are going to plan an experiment to monitor a reaction in solution using
polystyrene cup calorimetry. You will then state if the reaction is exothermic or
endothermic. Your plan should include details about how you will record the
temperature of the reaction mixture. You should also write a risk assessment.
Once you have written your plan, your teacher should check that it is safe.
Then you will react:
 copper sulfate and iron filings
 hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide
 dilute nitric acid with potassium hydroxide.

Task
1 Plan an experiment to find out if a chemical reaction is exothermic or endothermic.
 What apparatus will you use to monitor the temperature changes in your
experiment? You may wish to draw a diagram.
 What volume of solution will you put in the beaker?
 If you are adding a solid, how much will you use?
 How will you monitor the temperature of the reaction?
 How will you know if the chemical reaction is complete?
 How will you know if the chemical reaction is exothermic or endothermic?
2 Check your plan with your teacher and then carry it out. You can use the
example method at the end of this worksheet if necessary.
3 Record your temperature measurements.
4 How good was your calorimetry experiment?
What temperature change did you get? How did this compare with other groups?
Would you make any changes to your method if you were going to do this
practical again?

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 7.20.4
Student required practical 18

Questions
1 When hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide, a salt and water are made.
a Write the word equation for the reaction between hydrochloric acid and
sodium hydroxide.

(1 mark)

b State the type of chemical reaction that happens when hydrochloric acid
reacts with sodium hydroxide.

(1 mark)

c State if the reaction was exothermic or endothermic.

(1 mark)
2 When copper(II) sulfate solution reacts with iron filings, copper metal and a
salt is made.
a Write the word equation for the reaction between copper(II) sulfate and iron.

(1 mark)

b State the type of chemical reaction that happens when copper(II) sulfate
reacts with iron.

(1 mark)

c State if the reaction was exothermic or endothermic.

(1 mark)
3 When nitric acid reacts with potassium hydroxide, a salt and water are made.
a Write the word equation for the reaction between nitric acid and potassium
hydroxide.

(1 mark)

b State the type of chemical reaction that happens when nitric acid reacts
with potassium hydroxide.

(1 mark)

c State if the reaction was exothermic or endothermic.

(1 mark)

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 7.20.4
Student required practical 18

Method

1 Use the first measuring cylinder to measure 25 cm3 of the sodium hydroxide
solution and pour this into the polystyrene cup.
2 Stand the polystyrene cup in the 250 cm3 beaker.
3 In the second measuring cylinder, measure 25 cm3 of hydrochloric acid.
4 Using the thermometer, measure the temperature of the sodium hydroxide
every 30 seconds whilst gently stirring.
5 After exactly 2 minutes add the hydrochloric acid and continue to stir and
to record the temperature of the solution every 30 seconds for 10 minutes.
6 Repeat this experiment twice:
 with 25 cm3 of copper(II) sulfate then at 2 minutes add iron filings
 with 25 cm3 potassium hydroxide then at 2 minutes add dilute nitric acid.

© Oxford University Press 2017 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 4