Title: Experimental Applications of Hess’s Law

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to determine the enthalpy change of reaction,
ΔH by Hess’s Law and also to study the relationship between change in temperature ΔT and
enthalpy change ΔH.

Introduction:

Heat of reaction cannot be easily measured experimentally for many reactions. Some may
have high risk factors to be performed in labs and the rest cannot be done with simple lab
calorimeters as they are capable of generating a high amount of energy. Thus, a series of
reaction which has the net effect of the overall desired reaction can be examine as its heat is
more conveniently measured. Types of reactions regarding heat are divided into two;
endothermic reactions and exothermic reactions. Endothermic reactions is when the
surrounding heat is absorbed into the system whereas the exothermic reaction is when the
heat of the system is released to the surroundings. The expression of the amount of heat
released can be expressed as follows:

qreaction = qsolution + qcalorimeter

The equation can be further simplified because in this particular experiment, it can be
assumed that the calorimeter absorbs so little heat where qcalorimeter is almost zero. Thus
the equation can be simplified as follows:

qreaction = qsolution

The specific heat, Csp of the substance is responsible for the change in temperature caused by
a given amount of heat. Hence, the following equation can be used to calculate the heat:

Q = (Csp)(m)(ΔT)

where the m indicates the mass of the substance and the ΔT is the change in temperature
obtained by (final temperature – initial temperature)

The pressure in this experiment is kept constant at all times. This ensures that the observed
heat change will be equivalent to the reaction’s enthalpies, ΔH for the considered reactions.
There is an additional reaction in this experiment which is unable to be seen but the enthalpy
for it can be calculated by using the enthalpies of the directly observed experiments and also
the Hess’s Law. Only initial and final steps affect the enthalpy because it is a state function,
the reaction paths taken does not at all contribute to the enthalpy. For example, if there is a
reaction of A B with enthalpy of ΔH(A-B) and has intermediate steps of A C D B

then it can be assumed that ΔH(A-B) = ΔH(A-C) + ΔH(C-D) + ΔH(D-B). In reactions where
the enthalpy change is not conveniently observed or measured, this concepts becomes very
useful.

Apparatus and Materials:

Thermos flask, thermometer, 50ml beaker, 2.00M NH3(aq), 2.00M HCl(aq), solid NH4Cl

Procedure:

Part 1: The reaction of hydrochloric acid solution and ammonia aqueous solution

25.0ml of 2.00M NH3(aq) was measured using a graduated cylinder into a 50ml beaker.
Then, 25.0ml of 2.00M HCl(aq) was measured using a measuring cylinder and poured into a
thermos flask. Both solutions were made sure to be at or nearly at room temperature. The
initial temperature of both the solutions were recorded. The NH3(aq) was added to the
HCl(aq) in the thermos flask. The mixture was stirred slowly and continuously with a
thermometer and the maximum temperature reached by the mixture was recorded. The
process was repeated twice.

Part 2: The dissolving of solid ammonium chloride in water

25.0ml of distilled water was placed into the thermos flask. It was stirred carefully with a
thermometer until a constant temperature was reached. This temperature was recorded. About
5g of solid NH4Cl was weighed and grinded thoroughly for 1-2 minutes. The sample was
weighed again. The solid NH4Cl was placed into the water in the thermos flask. It was stirred
gently until the solid almost or completely dissolved and the maximum temperature reached
was recorded. The process was repeated twice.
Results and Calculations:

Part 1:

1 2 3 Average

Substance NH3 HCl NH3 HCl NH3 HCl NH3 HCl

Initial 28 27 28 27 26 28 27.3 27.3

Temperature
(°C)

Final 33 33 33 33.3
Temperature
(°C)

Part 2:

1 2 3 Average

Mass of NH4Cl 5.0062 5.0120 5.0115 5.0099

(g)

Initial 27 27 27 27
Temperature
(°C)

Final 16.5 16 16 16.17

Temperature
(°C)
Given that all densities of aqueous solutions = 1.00g/ml

Given their specific heat = 4.184 J/g °C

For Part 1:

Mass of HCl = density of HCl x volume of HCl

= 1.00g/ml x 25.0ml

= 25.0g

Mass of NH3 = density of NH3 x volume of NH3

= 1.00g/ml x 25.0ml

= 25.0g

ΔT = final temperature – initial temperature

= 33.3 – 27.3

= 6.00°C

Q = (Csp)(m)(ΔT)

= (4.184)(25.0 + 25.0)(6.0)

= 1255.2J

mole = MV / 1000

= (2.00)(25) / 1000
= 0.05mol

ΔH1 = Q / n

= 1255.2 / 0.05

= -25104 J/mol
For Part 2:

mass of distilled water = density of distilled water x volume of distilled water

= 1.00g/ml x 25.0ml

= 25.0g

ΔT = final temperature – initial temperature

= 16.2 – 27.0

= -10.8°C

Q = (Csp)(m)(ΔT)

= (4.184)(25)(-10.8)

= -1129.7J

Mole of NH4Cl = m / M

= 5.00 / 53.491
= 0.10mol

ΔH2 = Q / n

= -1129.7 / 0.10

= +11297 J/mol

Given that ΔHNH3 = -34640J/mol

Given that ΔHHCl = -75140J/mol

ΔHT = (-ΔHNH3) + (ΔHHCl) + (-ΔH1) + (ΔH2)

= 34640 + 75140 + 25104 + 11297

= 146181 J/mol
Discussion:

The performed experiment was on purpose to determine the enthalpy change of reaction
by using Hess’s Law and to study the relationship between temperature change and enthalpy
change.

Calorimetry method was used in this experiment. Calorimetry is defined as the

technological process of measuring energy changes in a chemical system (Kessel, Hans Van
and Frank Jenkins , 2002). Heat energy was measured in the experiment. The completion of
the experiment was in order to prove the Hess’s Law. G.H. Hess was a Swiss chemist who
suggested that a mathematical correlation is always existent among a series of identical
reactants and products. The law states that one can write the value of enthalpy change in any
reaction in steps and the sum of the values of each of the steps will be the total enthalpy
change. This means that a series of reactions with same reactants and product can be used to
determine the enthalpy change of any reaction.

To prove Hess’s Law the enthalpy change in the reaction between NH3 and HCl and
also the enthalpy change in the reaction between NH4Cl distilled water was determined. In
the reaction between NH3 and HCl the initial temperature of both the solutions were recorded
in an average of 27.3°C for both. After mixing them together, the mixture had an average
temperature of 33.3°C. For the reaction between NH4Cl and distilled water the NH4Cl had a
mass of 5.0099g in average and the initial temperature of the distilled water was an average
of 27°C. Using this values, the heat energy for both the reactions were calculated. The first
reaction was an exothermic reaction with heat energy value of 1255.2J. Whereas, the second
reaction was an endothermic reaction with heat energy value of -1129.7J. With this heat
energy values the enthalpy changes was calculated to be -25104J/mol for the first exothermic
reaction and +11297J/mol for the second endothermic reaction. To calculate the total
enthalpy change, all the enthalpies were summed up and a value of +146181J/mol was
obtained which also indicates that the overall reaction was an endothermic reaction.

If the results of the individual sections of the experiment were affected, the effects on
the overall reaction will be significant. For example if due to carelessness, the first reaction
was said to be endothermic and the second was said to be exothermic, the whole experiment
would have failed. Secondly, if the final calculated value of the enthalpy of ammonium
chloride was affected then the overall enthalpy change would have been affected as well.
If a student mis-reads the final temperature of the mixture in Part 1, recording a temperature
that is too low, both the calculated heat energy and enthalpy values will be lesser than
original. If a volume of 75.0ml was misused, the calculated heat energy and enthalpy value
will be greater than original.

Conclusion:

The relationship between heat change and enthalpy change was studied and the enthalpy
change was determined by Hess’s Law with a value of 146181J/mol.

References

Kessel, Hans Van and Frank Jenkins , 2002. Nelson Chemistry 12. 12th ed. s.l.:Nelson
Education Limited.