Rayanna Whittingham

Lab:11

Date: January 19,2024

Title: Energetics

Aim: To determine the heat of neutralization from the reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium

hydroxide.

Apparatus and Materials:

 2M NaOH

 1M H2SO4

 2 Polystyrene cups / Calorimeter

 2 Measuring cylinders

 Thermometer

 Beakers

Procedure:

1. 50cm3 of H2SO4 was measured and transferred to a polystyrene cup. It was then allowed

to stand for approximately 5 minutes then the steady temperature of the acid was

recorded.

2. 50cm3 of NaOH was measured and transferred to another polystyrene cup. It was allowed

to stand for approximately 5 minutes , then the steady temperature of the acid was

recorded.
 3. All of the base was added all at once to the acid, it was stirred a few seconds and the

highest temperature reached was recorded.

Observation/Results:

Specific heat capacity of dilute solution = 4.2kJ-1K-1

The initial temperature of the solutions, recorded before their mixing, provide valuable insights

into the experiment. The sodium hydroxide (NaOH0, serving as the base, exhibited an initial

temperature of 29℃, while the sulfuric acid (H2SO4), acting as the acid, had an initial

temperature of -19℃. Notably, the initial temperature of the base was higher than that of the

acid, indicating a disparity in thermal condition. After adding sodium hydroxide to sulfuric acid

and mixing, the mixture heated up to a high of 38.5 degrees Celsius. This significant rise in

temperature during the reaction points to the release of heat by an exothermic mechanism. The

positive temperature change aligns with expectations for a neutralization reaction, where an acid

and a base react to form water and a salt, releasing energy in the form of heat. The observations

point to the exothermic nature of the reaction between sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid, with

the higher initial temperature of the base contributing to the elevated temperature of the reaction

mixture.
Calculation:

1. Calculate the number of moles of acid in the experiment.

Moles=concentration x volume

1mol/L x 0.050 L

Moles= 0.05 mol

2. Calculate the number of moles of base used in the experiment.

Moles=concentration x volume

2mol/L x 0.050L

Moles= 0.1 mol

3. Calculate the heat evolved in the experiment.

Heat change= mass of solution x specific heat capacity x temperature change

Mass= volume x density = 50cm3 = 50 cm3 = 100g

100g/1000 = 0.1kg

Eh=mc∆T

(25 ℃+29 ℃)
∆T= 38.5℃ - =
2

54
∆T= 38.5℃ -
2

∆T= 38.5℃ - 27℃

∆T= 11.5℃

0.1kg x 4.2J kg-1k-1 x 11.5

Heat evolved = 4.83 KJ

4. Calculate the heat of neutralization of the reaction between NaOH and H2SO4.

∆Heat of Neutralization = (heat produced) / moles of water produced)

NAOH : H2O

1 : 1 ratio

0.10mol → 0.10 mole of water

∆Heat of Neutralization= -48.3 kJ / 0.10 moll

= -483 kJ/mol