T H E R

609
modular

laboratory

program

publisher: H. A. Neidig

in

chemistry
editor: M. L. Gillette

Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

prepared by M. L. Gillette, Indiana University Kokomo,
H. A. Neidig, Lebanon Valley College, and J. N. Spencer, Franklin and Marshall College

Purpose of the Experiment

Estimate the heat of neutralization for the reaction of sodium hydroxide with
hydrochloric acid.

Background Required
You should be familiar with basic laboratory techniques for measuring the volume and temperature of solutions, with the concepts associated with
stoichiometry and thermochemistry, and with graphing procedures.

Background Information
Consider the neutralization of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) solutions as shown in Equation 1.
HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) H2O ( l ) + NaCl (aq)

(Eq. 1)

Neutralization reactions are exothermic; that is, energy is released in the form of
heat. The heat of neutralization (Hneut) is the heat transferred when one mole
of acid reacts with one mole of base. This heat is generally reported in either kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol) or kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol).
Example
Problem

Determine the Hneut for the reaction of nitric acid (HNO3) with NaOH solution.
HNO3 (aq) + NaOH (aq) NaNO3 (aq) + H2O ( l )

(Eq. 2)

Before mixing 50 mL of 1.0M HNO3 and 51 mL of 1.0M NaOH, the temperature of

the reactants was 23.1 C. After mixing, the temperature of the reaction mixture
was 29.4 C. The specific heat capacity of the reaction mixture is 3.89 J/g C and
the density is 1.04 g/mL.
Solution

(1) Calculate the temperature change for the reaction.

T = Tfinal Tinitial = 29.4 C 23.1 C = 6.3 C

(Eq. 3)

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THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

(2) Calculate the amount of heat released by the reaction, using Equation 4.
amount of heat volume of reaction density of reaction specific heat capacity
=
( T , C ) (Eq. 4)


released, J
mixture, mL mixture, g / mL of mixture, J / g C

1. 04 g
= ( 101mL )
( 3 . 89 J / g C ) ( 6.3 C )
mL
= 2.6 103 J
(3) From the volumes and molarities of the reactants, calculate the number of moles of
HNO3 and of NaOH you mixed, using Equation 5, and determine which reagent
was limiting.
number of moles
volume of solution 1 L molarity of
=

of acid or base, mol

added, mL
1000 mL solution, mol / L

(Eq. 5)

1L
number of moles
2
= ( 50 mL )
( 1. 0 mol HNO3 / L ) = 5 . 0 10 mol
of HNO3 , mol
1000 mL
1L
number of moles
2
= ( 51mL )
( 1. 0 mol NaOH / L ) = 5 .1 10 mol
of NaOH, mol
1000 mL
HNO3 was the limiting reagent.
(4) Finally, calculate Hneut using Equation 6, remembering that Hneut is negative for
exothermic reactions.

amount of energy released, J

Hneut , J / mol =

number of moles of acid or base neutralized, mol

(Eq. 6)

2 . 6 103 J
= 5 . 2 104 J / mol
=

2
5.0 10 mol

In This Experiment
You will determine Hneut for the reaction of HCl with NaOH.

Procedure

Note:

If you are not familiar with the proper technique for inserting a thermometer into a split rubber stopper, ask your laboratory instructor for
assistance.
Dispose of your reaction mixtures and rinses according to your laboratory instructors directions.
Record all of your data on your Data and Observations sheet.

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Caution: Wear departmentally approved safety goggles while doing this experiment.
Always use caution in the laboratory. Many chemicals are potentially harmful. Prevent
contact with your eyes, skin, and clothing. Avoid ingesting any of the reagents.

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

I. Obtaining the Reactants

Caution: 2M HCl is a corrosive, toxic solution that can cause skin irritation.

1. Label a dry 100-mL graduated cylinder acid. Measure 50.0 mL of 2M HCl

into the cylinder. Pour all of the acid into a dry, 8-oz pressed polystyrene cup.

Caution: 2M NaOH is a corrosive, toxic solution that can cause skin irritation.

2. Label a dry 100-mL graduated cylinder base. Measure 51.0 mL of 2M NaOH

into the cylinder. Pour all of the base into a dry 150-mL beaker.

II. Positioning the Equipment

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3. Place a split rubber stopper on the upper end of a thermometer. Suspend the
thermometer by clamping the stopper to a ring stand, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Equipment for timetemperature study

4. Immerse the end of the thermometer in the HCl solution in the cup (see Figure 1). Position the thermometer so that it does not touch the sides or bottom of
the cup, making sure that you can read the temperature markings between 20
and 35 C.
5. Following the procedure described in Step 4, suspend a second thermometer
in the NaOH solution in the beaker.

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

III. Making Pre-Mixing Temperature Measurements

Note: If the thermometers are calibrated in 1 C increments, read the temperature
to the nearest degree, and estimate the temperature to the nearest 0.5 C.
If the thermometers are calibrated in 0.1 C increments, read the temperature to
the nearest 0.1 C, and estimate the temperature to the nearest 0.05 C.

6. Use the temperature at time 0.0 min as the initial entry for the NaOH solution. Take the initial reading of the HCl solution after 30 s. Alternately read the
temperatures of the two solutions every 30 s over a 5-min period. Record all
times and temperatures in the determination 1 column of your Data and Observations sheet. If you are working with a partner, one of you can read the temperatures while the other records the data.

IV. Mixing the Reactants and Making Post-Mixing

Temperature Measurements
7. After 5 min, quickly pour the NaOH solution, with stirring, into the HCl solution in the polystyrene cup.
Continue to stir the mixture at a constant rate. Measure temperaturetime
data for the reaction mixture 30 s after mixing, then at 1-min intervals for 10 min.
Record all times and temperatures.
8. Discard the reaction mixture, following the directions of your laboratory instructor.
9. Do a second determination following the procedure of Steps 18. Your
laboratory instructor might ask you to use a clean, dry polystyrene cup for each
determination. Record your data in the determination 2 column.

Caution: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or detergent before leaving the
laboratory.

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Post-Laboratory Questions
Use the spaces provided for the answers and additional paper if necessary.
1. One of the first statements in the Background Information is Neutralization reactions are exothermic;
that is, energy is released in the form of heat. What experimental evidence do you have to verify this statement?

2. The theoretical Hneut for the reaction of HCl with NaOH is 5.59 x 104 J/mol. Calculate the percent error
in your determination, using Equation 7.
theoretical Hneut experimental Hneut
percent error, % =
( 100% )
theoretical Hneut

(Eq. 7)

3. (a) Speculate about why you were directed to mix the HCl and NaOH solutions in the polystyrene
cup and not in the beaker.

(b) Would your experimental Hneut have been higher or lower if you had mixed the acid and base
solutions in the beaker? Briefly explain.

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(c) Would your experimental Hneut have been higher or lower if you had covered your cup with a
polystyrene top in which holes were made for your thermometer and stirring rod? Briefly explain.

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

4. Referring to your temperaturetime data and graph, briefly explain how your experimental results would
have been affected if you had based your T determination on your recorded temperatures rather than on
the extrapolation of your plotted data.

5. Compare the theoretical Hneut for the HClNaOH reaction with the calculated result for the
HNO3NaOH reaction in the Background Information.
(a) Write the complete ionic equations for each of these reactions.
HClNaOH:

HNO3NaOH:

(b) Write the net ionic equations for each of these reactions.
HClNaOH:

(c) Would you expect Hneut for the HClNaOH reaction to be the same as that for the HNO3NaOH
reaction? Briefly explain why or why not.

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HNO3NaOH:

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Data and Observations

determination 1

determination 2

volume of HCl solution, mL

_______________________

______________________

molarity of HCl solution, mol/L

_______________________

______________________

volume of NaOH solution, mL

_______________________

______________________

molarity of NaOH solution, mol/L

_______________________

______________________

TemperatureTime Data
determination 1
temperature, C
time, min

base

0.0

_________

0.5
1.0

4.5

acid

mixture

_________
_________

_________

_________

_________

_________
_________

_________

_________

3.5
4.0

base
_________

_________

2.5
3.0

mixture

_________

1.5
2.0

acid

determination 2
temperature, C

_________
_________

_________

_________

_________
_________

_________

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mix
5.5

_________

_________

6.0

_________

_________

7.0

_________

_________

8.0

_________

_________

9.0

_________

_________

10.0

_________

_________

11.0

_________

_________

12.0

_________

_________

13.0

_________

_________

14.0

_________

_________

15.0

_________

_________
THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

Calculations and Conclusions

Show your calculations in the space provided. Remember to include units with all calculated results.
1.

Plot the temperature vs elapsed time as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Plot of typical temperaturetime data

Figure 3 Extrapolation of temperaturetime data to find T

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To determine T, draw a vertical line of mixing (See Figure 3). Then, draw the best straight lines through the data
points for each solution taken prior to mixing. Then draw the best straight line through the post-mixing data, ignoring the first two or three post-mixing data points. Extrapolate each of these lines to the line of mixing.

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2. Find the temperature change (T ) for each determination. The average initial temperature (Tinitial) of
the reactant solutions is the average of these solutions temperatures at the intersection of the extrapolated
lines and the line of mixing. The final temperature (Tfinal) is the intersection of the extrapolated
post-mixing line and the line of mixing.

determination 1 _________________

determination 2 _________________

3. For each determination, calculate the amount of heat transferred when you mixed 51.0 mL of 2.00M
NaOH and 50.0 mL of 2.00M HCl, using Equation 4. Assume the final volume of the reaction mixture was
101.0 mL, its density was 1.04 g/mL, and its specific heat capacity was 3.89 J/g C.

determination 1 _________________

determination 2 _________________

4. For each determination, calculate the number of moles of HCl and of NaOH that were present when you
mixed 50.0 mL of 2.00M HCl with 51.0 mL of 2.00M NaOH, using Equation 5.

determination 1 _________________mol HCl

determination 2 _________________mol HCl

_________________mol NaOH

_________________mol NaOH

5. For each determination, calculate the number of moles of NaOH that reacted when you mixed 51.0 mL of
2.00M NaOH with 50.0 mL of 2.00M HCl.

determination 1 _________________

determination 2 _________________

6. For each determination, calculate Hneut for the reaction of 1 mol of HCl and 1 mol of NaOH, using Equation 6. (Remember that H is negative for exothermic reactions.)

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determination 1 _________________

determination 2 _________________

7. If you did two determinations, calculate the average Hneut for the reaction of 1 mol of HCl and 1 mol of
NaOH.

average Hneut

_________________

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

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THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

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Pre-Laboratory Assignment
1.

What hazards should you know about when you work with:
(a) 2M NaOH?

(b) 2M HCl?

2. Define the following terms as they apply to this experiment:

(a) exothermic reaction
(b) Hneut
3. (a) How will you determine the initial temperature of your HCl and NaOH solutions (Tinitial) if the
temperatures of these solutions are not exactly the same?

(b) Thermometers respond relatively slowly. Briefly explain how you will overcome this difficulty
when you calculate T in this experiment.

4. While performing an experiment similar to the one described in the Procedure, a student mixed 30.0 mL
of 1.00M HCl with 31.0 mL of 1.00M NaOH and recorded the temperaturetime data shown below. Assuming
the initial temperatures of the HCl and NaOH solutions were the same, and the specific heat capacity of the reaction mixture and its density are 3.89 J/g C and 1.04 g/mL, respectively, calculate Hneut for the reaction.
temperature, C

time, min

temperature, C

0.0

21.7

8.0

28.2

1.0

21.8

9.0

28.1

2.0

21.9

10.0

28.0

3.0

mix

11.0

28.0

4.0

27.2

12.0

27.9

5.0

28.0

13.0

27.8

6.0

28.4

14.0

27.7

7.0

28.3

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time, min

THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

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THER 609/Estimating a Heat of Neutralization

ISBN 0-87540-609-2

1999 Chemical Education Resources

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