MOLO, Alessandra Ilsa, L.

16F
Experiment 6: Heat Formation of NaCl(s) October 28, 2019
Abstract
Enthalpy is the total energy of a system, and when pressure is constant, the change in enthalpy is
equal to the change of heat of a system. This experiment measured the enthalpy of formation of
solid sodium chloride via the neutralization of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid in a
calorimeter and the dissolution of solid sodium chloride. Hess’s law was applied to the
measurements from the experiment, and the results indicate that the formation of solid sodium
hydroxide releases 397.97 kilojoules of heat per mole.

Introduction
Energy is the ability to do work. In a chemical reaction, energy exists in the bonds of the elements
that compose each reactant and is transformed into heat—a form of thermal or kinetic energy
associated with the random movement of particles. In an endothermic reaction, heat from the
surroundings is absorbed by the system, while in an exothermic reaction, heat is released from the
system into the surroundings. The transfer of heat that occurs in a chemical reaction under constant
pressure is also known as a change in enthalpy. Enthalpy is the total energy of a system, and if
pressure is constant, no work is being done, thus making the release or absorption of heat in a
chemical reaction equivalent to its change in enthalpy.
qheat of reaction = -qgained by solution = -msolution x c x (TFinal-TInitial) Equation 1
where q is heat, m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and T is temperature

In this experiment, the enthalpy of the formation of solid sodium chloride was determined by
performing a neutralization reaction using sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, as well as
dissolving sodium chloride in water. This process can be better understood through the equation
above (equation 1). The neutralization reaction was performed inside a calorimeter to prevent the
heat released by the system from leaking out into the surroundings. The system consisted of the
sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, while everything else in the universe constituted the
surroundings, such as air particles and the surface of the calorimeter. In dissolving sodium chloride
in water, the sodium chloride itself and its separated ions constituted the system, while water was
one part of the surroundings.

Methods
The first half of the procedure involved a neutralization reaction between sodium hydroxide and
hydrochloric acid. A Styrofoam cup was placed in a 250 mL beaker, then the total mass of the set
up was taken. Next, the temperatures of 75 mL of 1M HCl and 75 mL of 1M NaOH were taken
separately then averaged. Afterwards, the two substances were combined in the sealed Styrofoam
cup and the maximum temperature within the duration of a minute was observed. Finally, the total
mass was measured, and another trial was performed.
The second half of the procedure entailed dissolving solid sodium chloride in water. After taking
the mass and initial temperature of 150 mL water in a Styrofoam cup, 4.38 grams of solid sodium
chloride were dissolved in it while the change in temperature was observed. The lowest
temperature reached was recorded, then another trial was performed.
Results
Table 1. Neutralization of Sodium Hydroxide with Hydrochloric Acid
Trial Mass of Solution Change in Temperature Heat of Neutralization
1 150.49 g 5.5°C -3460 J
2 151.21 g 5.5°C -3476 J
Average 5.5°C -3468 J

Table 2. Dissolution of Solid Sodium Chloride in Water

Trial Mass of Solution Density of Solution Change in Temperature Enthalpy
1 149.19 g 0.99 g/mL -0.5°C 311.81 J
2 147.57 g 0.98 g/mL -0.5°C 308.42 J
Average 310.12 J

Table 3. Enthalpies of Formation of Solid Sodium Chloride

Chemical Equation Enthalpy
Na(s) + ½ O2 (g) + ½ H2 (g) → NaOH(s) -426.73 kJ/mol
NaOH(s) → NaOH(aq) -44.505 kJ/mol
½ H2 (g) + ½ Cl2 (g) → HCl(g) -92.30 kJ/mol
HCl(g) → HCl(aq) -74.843 kJ/mol
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(s) + H2O(l) -46.24 kJ/mol
NaCl(aq) → NaCl(s) 4.14 kJ/mol
H2O(l) → H2O(g) 40.668 kJ/mol
H2O(g) + ½ O2 (g) → ½ H2 (g) 241.84 kJ/mol
Net equation = Na(s) + ½ Cl2 (g) → NaCl(s) -397.97 kJ/mol

Discussion
Table 1 shows the measurements involved in the neutralization of sodium hydroxide and
hydrochloric acid. By plugging in the experimental data into equation 1 in the introduction and
using the specific heat capacity of 4.18 for water-based solutions, the formation of heat of the
reaction averages to -3468 J. The negative value indicates that the reaction was exothermic,
consistent with the positive value for change in temperature, as the system released heat that the
thermometer detected (AtQ1). Hence, it was necessary to have conducted this procedure inside a
calorimeter with a lid to prevent this heat from escaping. If heat had escaped, the temperature
would not have risen as much as it did, making the absolute value of the calculated enthalpy less
than it should be (AtQ3).
Table 2 shows the measurements involved in the dissolution of solid sodium chloride in water.
These measurements determined the average enthalpy of the dissolution to be 310.12 J. The
positive value indicates an absorption of heat, making it an endothermic reaction (AtQ1).
The data from the procedure was used to find the enthalpy of formation of solid sodium chloride
by applying Hess’s law, as shown in table 3. Hess’s law holds true because it is a corollary of the
first law of thermodynamics. Since the total energy of a system is conserved, the sum of the
changes in enthalpy of many chemical reactions that cancel out to certain desired reactants and
products is equal to the formation of those desired products from those desired reactants. The law
of conservation also makes enthalpy a state function, so the exact path the system took is not
relevant information, only the initial and final states (AtQ4). In this experiment, the changes in
enthalpy of two out of eight independent reactions that cancel out to the desired reactants that
produce solid sodium chloride were measured. These enthalpies were summed up with the
enthalpies of the other six to obtain the value of -397.97 kJ, thus making the formation of solid
sodium chloride exothermic.
This experiment is susceptible to error both in its procedure and data analysis. Although the
calorimeter had a lid, small amounts of heat from the neutralization reaction were able to escape
because Styrofoam is not a perfect insulator. At the same time, if the thermometer were not rinsed
and dried prior to its use, the change in temperature measured would likely be inaccurate and thus
potentially skew data. In terms of data analysis, humans have a tendency for carelessness,
especially when dealing with the signs of mathematical values. Failing to include a factor of
negative one in computing the enthalpy of a reaction would make an exothermic reaction come
out with a positive value, while an endothermic reaction would come out with a negative value
(AtQ2).
If more concentrated solutions of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid were used, the heat of
neutralization would increase. This is because heat is an extensive property; the greater the amount
of substance, the more heat it can hold. Increasing the concentration involves increasing the moles
of substance, therefore increasing the joules of heat. However, ratio of moles to joules would
remain the same, so converting the data from this hypothetical experiment to determine the molar
heat of formation of solid sodium chloride and water would still yield -46.24 kJ. If solid sodium
hydroxide were used, the absolute value of the change in enthalpy would increase. By combining
solid sodium hydroxide in hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide would be ionized and become
aqueous, and table 3 shows that converting one mole of solid sodium hydroxide to aqueous sodium
hydroxide releases 44.505 kJ. Hence, this additional release of heat would make the absolute value
of the overall change of enthalpy greater than what was measured in this experiment (AtQ5).

Sample Calculations
mass of solution = total mass – mass of container 256.57 g – 106.08 g = 150.49 g
density of solution = mass of solution / volume of 149.19 g/150 mL= 0.99 g/mL
solution
Change in temperature = final temperature – initial 35.5°C – 30.0°C = 5.5°C
temperature
Average = summation of measurements / number of (5.5+5.5)/2 = 5.5°C
measurements
Heat of neutralization or enthalpy = specific heat 4.18 J x 150.49 g x 5.5°C = 3460 J
capacity x mass x change in temperature
/enthalpy of dissolution/ 310.12 J / 0.0749 mol = 4140 J/mol
Molar enthalpy of formation = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠
 Enthalpy of formation of NaCl(s) = summation of -462.73 + -44.505 + -92.30 + -
enthalpies of the 8 given chemical reactions 74.843 + -46.24 + 4.14 + 40.668 +
241.84 = -397.97 kJ

Conclusions
The neutralization of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid released 46.24 kilojoules of heat
per mole, while the dissolution of solid sodium chloride absorbed 4.14 kilojoules of heat per mole.
By applying Hess’s law to the data garnered, it can be concluded that the enthalpy of formation of
solid sodium chloride is -397.97 kilojoules per mole. All three objectives of performing the
neutralization reaction inside an isolated calorimeter, measuring the change in enthalpy of
neutralization and dissolution, as well as calculating the enthalpy of formation of solid sodium
hydroxide from this data were fulfilled.

References
Kotz J.C., Treichel, P.M., Townsend, J.R. Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity. Ninth edition.
Stanford, USA. Cengage Learning; 2012.

San Esteban, A.C.M., & Yanza, E.R.S. Modern Experiments in General Chemistry I. Tenth
edition. Quezon City, Philippines. Ateneo de Manila University Department of Chemistry;
2018.

Factors Affecting Enthalpy of Reaction [Internet]. Chemistry Desk; 2011. Available from
https://chemistry-desk.blogspot.com/2011/05/factors-affecting-enthalpy-of-reaction.html