FACULTAD DE INGENIERÍA

DEPARTAMENTO DE INGENIERÍA QUÍMICA Y AMBIENTAL

DISEÑO, ANÁLISIS Y EVALUACIÓN DE PRÁCTICAS PARA ESTIMAR

PROPIEDADES TERMODINÁMICAS Y DE TRANSPORTE

HEAT OF SOLUTION USING BEYOND LABZ

INTRODUCTION

Heat of solution, or enthalpy of solution, is related to the amount of heat energy that is
released or absorbed when a solution is formed. There are three main steps involved, the
breaking of bonds between solute molecules, the breaking of intermolecular attractions
between solvent molecules, and the formation of new solute-solvent attractive bonds. Energy
is absorbed during the first two steps, and it is released during the last step. Depending on the
relative amounts of energy required to break bonds initially, as well as how much is released
upon solute-solvent bond formation, the overall heat of solution can either be endothermic
or exothermic.

In general, the calculation of the heat produced or consumed by a process is based on the
equation 𝐶 = 𝑄/∆𝑇, where 𝑄 is the heat produced or consumed by the process (in this
opportunity the heat of solution), ∆𝑇 is the temperature changed measured by the
thermometer, and 𝐶 is the heat capacity of the entire system. If 𝐶 is known, then the heat can
be calculated by rearranging the equation to 𝑄 = 𝐶∆𝑇. Measuring ∆𝑇 is rather straightforward,
however, the trick is knowing the heat capacity of the system. The heat capacity of the system
includes the sample being measured plus the calorimeter.

The heat capacity of the system (sample plus calorimeter) can be determined using an electrical
calibration. For the Dewar and coffee cup, an electrical heater has been provided where the
heater can be turned on and off. The current going through the heater and the voltage across
the heater can be measured, and the time the heater is on can be measured with a stopwatch.
From this, the heat, 𝑄𝑝 , provided by the heater can be calculated using 𝑄𝑝 = 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟. 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
𝑉. 𝑖 . 𝑡, where 𝑉 is the voltage across the heater while the heater is on, 𝑖 is the current going
through the heater and 𝑡 is the length of time the heater was on. With 𝑄𝑝 and the resulting
temperature rise, ∆𝑇𝑃 , caused by the electrical heating, the heat capacity of the system (sample
plus calorimeter), 𝐶, can be calculated using the equation 𝐶 = 𝑄𝑝 /∆𝑇𝑃 and with it, one can
calculate 𝑄 (the heat of solution) from 𝑄 = 𝐶∆𝑇. It is important to mention that it is also
possible to separately determine the calorimeter constant and the specific heat of the sample
solution.
TASKS

• Determine the heat of solution value of a known reagent using the software Beyond
Labz.

• Compare the obtained heat of solution result with those available in the literature.

• Determine the heat of solution value of an unknown salt using the software Beyond
Labz.

Recommendation: Review the document “The calorimetry lab of Beyond Labz” in advance to better
understand the general aspects, possibilities and features of the simulated environment generated
by the software. This document shall be provided by your professor in charge.

PROCEDURE

1. Start Beyond Labz, select the virtual ChemLab and then the top Calorimetry icon. Thus,
the calorimetry lab environment will be opened.

2. Go to the stockroom, select the Dewar calorimeter and a salt whose heat of solution
you would like to estimate, then return to the calorimetry lab environment with the
selected materials. Take note of the temperature and barometric pressure conditions for
the day, those conditions can be read on the LED display located on the wall.

3. Fill the calorimeter with some volume of distillate water between 200 and 500 mL. For
this purpose, one can use the graduated cylinders that are available near to the distillate
water sink.

4. Determine the calorimeter constant using the power supply of the control panel. Do not
forget to turn on the stirrer, the thermometer, and to open the graph window before
collecting the data. The slider on the Control Panel is used to set the current between 0
and 500 mA. The lower LCD is used to display the current setting, and the upper LCD
is used to display the voltage across the heater. When the voltage or upper LCD reads
zero, then the heater is off. The green and red lights on the left of the Control Panel are
used to turn the heater on and off. If the Stopwatch Window is open, then the stopwatch
will automatically measure the length of time the heater is on.

5. Place the salt bottle in the balance area and then click on the balance to zoom in. Place a
weighing paper on the balance and then tare the balance. Click on the reagent bottle lid
to open it. Click and drag on the scoop and place it "in" the bottle and then, without
letting go, drag the scoop down the bottle label to choose the amount of solid to place
on the scoop. Now drag the scoop to the weighing paper on the balance until it snaps in
place and drop the scoop. Repeat the scooping step as necessary to measure out the
necessary quantity of solid. Zoom out the balance area.
6. Drag the weigh paper with the sample to the calorimeter (with the heater system off and
the stirrer and thermometer on) until it snaps into place and then pour the sample into
the calorimeter, do not forget to start saving data before the dragging action. Observe
the change in temperature until it reaches a maximum. All the collected data will be saved
as link icons in the lab book.

7. Determine the specific heat of the final solution using the heater supply in a similar way
it was used in step 4.

8. Determine the heat of solution with all the data that has been collected. Then repeat all
the process to get at least a replicated result. Clicking on the disposal bucket will clear
the entire laboratory.

9. Evaluate an unknown salt from the unknown’s section. To do this, go to the stockroom
and click on the selector switch of the unknown section, then select the option “salt”.
This will then place the appropriate unknown reagent on the unknown shelf. A heat of
solution will be randomly assigned to the unknown. Clicking on the Return to Stockroom
arrow will zoom out to the normal stockroom view, and the selected unknown will be
on the right side of the unknown shelf. After performing the appropriate experiment for
the selected unknown, the result of the experiment is reported through the lab book.
To report an answer for an unknown, open the lab book and click on the Practice or
Instructions button on the menu bar, which will then reveal the appropriate reporting
page for the accepted unknown.