Title: Finding the enthalpy change for the reaction of the magnesium with hydrochloric acid.

Aim: To determine the enthalpy change for the reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric
acid.

Theory: Some chemical reactions are accompanied by energy changes, mainly in the form of
heat energy. The heat change for a reaction is referred to as the enthalpy change ∆𝐻 . Heat
change from the water which takes place in an aqueous solution can be measured by the gain or
loss of heat from the water. The heat released or absorbed for a given mass of reactant can be
calculated from the relationship

Heat change=mc∆𝑇

It is assumed that 1cm3 of solution has a mass of 1g , the specific heat capacity of the solution is
the same as that of water and no heat is gained or lost in or during the reaction. The enthalpy
change of the reaction can then be calculated by finding heat released or absorbed for a 1-mole
substance. In this experiment, magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid, and enthalpy change
for the reaction calculated.

Apparatus & Materials: Mg powder,2 mol dm3 HCl, polystyrene cup, 50cm3 measuring
cylinder, balance, weighing bottle, glass rod, thermometer.

Procedure
1) 0.48g of Mg powder was accurately weighed in a weighing bottle

2) A measuring cylinder was used to place 50cm3 of hydrochloric acid into a polystyrene
cup.

3) The temperature of the solution was taken every 30 seconds for 3 ½ minutes.

4) At exactly 4 minutes the Mg powder was added from the weighing bottle to the
polystyrene cup and stirred.
The 4-minute reading was ignored but the temperature continued to be recorded every 30
seconds from 4 ½ minutes.

The empty bottle was reweighed with any residue and recorded the value.

Table 1:Weighing of Mg

Mass of weighing bottle and Mg powder/g

Mass of weighing bottle and residue/g

Mass of Mg powder/g

Table 2: Temperature readings for Mg and hydrochloric acid

Time/minutes Temperature/◦C Time/minutes Temperature/◦C

0 5.5

.5 6

1.5 6.5

2 7

2.5 7.5

3 8

3.5 8.5

4 9

4.5 9.5
5 10