FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

LABORATORY REPORT
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(476)

TITLE CALORIMETRY:HESS LAW

NO. EXP 1
STUDENT NAME AIMAN FARHAN B ZAIREE
STUDENT NO 2022616558
DATE OF EXP
DATE SUBMITTED 18 JUN 2023
LECTURER’S NAME DR. NORLIZA BT DZAKARIA
PROGRAMME CODE AS222 2A1
OBJECTIVES

1) To compare the heat capacities of a coffee cup calorimeter and a copper calorimeter.
2) To determine the standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide, ∆H°f.

INTRODUCTION

Heat can be defined as the energy transfer from one system to another system because there are
differences in the temperature changes of the system and the surroundings. A calorimeter is used
tin a chemical reaction to transfer the heat. The calorimeter prevents the loss or gain of heat
between the surrounding and the calorimeter itself so that we can measure the amount of heat
flow in the system.

We can measure the heat of reaction for a given reaction in kilojoules per mole (kJ mol-1) by
calculating the values of heat of reaction for other reactions. Hess’s Law states that when
reactants are converted to products, the changes in enthalpy has no differences whether there are
single or multiple stages or steps of a reaction

In this experiment, we are determining the standard enthalpy (heat) of formation of magnesium
oxide.

Along with all these equations: Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl22(aq) + H(g) MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) →
MgCl22(aq) + HO(l) H222(g) + ½O(g) → HO(l)

The heat of reaction for the reaction between Magnesium with Hydrochloric Acid and the
reaction between Magnesium Oxide with Hydrochloric Acid will be obtained experimentally and
for the reaction water, the heat of formation can be obtained from the literature. The heat
capacity of the calorimeter can be determined by observing the change of temperature when a
known weight of hot water is mixed with an amount of cold water in the calorimeter.
APPARATUS

1. Thermometer (2)
2. Styrofoam cup with cardboard cover lid (2)
3. Copper calorimeter with insulating cover (1)
4. 100cm3 beaker
5. 100cm3 graduated cylinder

CHEMICALS

1. 2.0M hydrochloric acid

2. Magnesium oxide powder
3. Magnesium powder

PROCEDURE

A. HEAT CAPACITY OF CALORIMETER

The double Styrofoam cups should be in clean and dry conditions.

1. 50cm3 of tap water was exactly delivered into the calorimeter by using a burette. The cover
and the thermometer were replaced. The water temperature was recorded for four minutes at one
minute intervals.
2. 50cm3 of hot water (40-50°C above the room temperature) was measured using a graduated
cylinder and poured into a beaker. The temperature of the hot water was quickly recorded using
another thermometer and completely poured it into the calorimeter (containing cold water) at the
fifth minute. The lid was replaced back and the water was carefully stirred with the thermometer.
The temperature was recorded every 15 seconds for the next three minutes.
3. Steps 1 and Steps 2 were repeated using the copper calorimeter.

B. REACTION 2: MAGNESIUM WITH HYDROCHLORIC ACID

1. Between 1.0 - 1.1g of magnesium powder was weighed. The exact weight used was recorded.
2. 50cm3 of 2M HCl was drained from a burette into the calorimeter. The cover and thermometer
were replaced. The temperature of the HCl was recorded every minute for four minutes. The
magnesium powder was quickly poured into the HCl solution at the fifth minute. The lid was
replaced back and the contents in the calorimeter was carefully stirred with a thermometer. The
temperature was recorded for the next three minutes at 15 seconds intervals.
C. Reaction 3: Magnesium oxide with Hydrochloric Acid
1. Between 1.6-1.8g of magnesium oxide was weighed. The exact weight used for MgO was
recorded.
2. Step 2 in B was repeated.
D. Hydrogen gas with Oxygen gas
This value will not be experimentally determined in the laboratory for safety reasons. It has been
professionally determined and verified and the value is listed in standard reference sources. The
value must be determined
RESULTS
DISCUSSIONS

In this experiment, we have compared the heat capacities of a coffee cup calorimeter and a
copper calorimeter by using the formula, qcal = Ccal(Tf –Tc). The heat capacity of the copper
calorimeter is 78.38 J°C-1 which is higher than the heat capacity of the coffee cup calorimeter,
48.1 J°C-1. This is because the temperature change of the copper calorimeter is smaller than that
in the coffee cup calorimeter. Based on the formula, q = C∆T, we know that the heat capacity ©
increases when temperature changes (∆T) decreases as ∆T is inversely proportional to C.

The percentage error of the copper calorimeter is higher than the coffee cup calorimeter. The
percentage error of the coffee cup calorimeter is 16.92% while the percentage error of the copper
calorimeter is 42.71%. There are some factors that may affect the results when handling this
experiment. The instruments used are very important to be fixed properly. So that it would not
affect the value that we calculated. For example, if the lid of the coffee cup has a hole that can
make the heat loss to the surrounding faster than usual. Hence, the value of temperature we get is
quite different from the actual temperature. Besides, there will be parallax error when we take the
reading of the thermometer as the eyes of the observer are not in the correct position. After that,
the temperature recorded may not be in line with the time intervals that have been set. To
overcome all these errors that may affect the results, the eyes of the observer should be
perpendicular to the reading scale of the thermometer. Then, the lid of the coffee cup calorimeter
must be in a good condition where there is no hole so that heat could not be escaped. The time
read and record the temperature must be estimated correctly with the time intervals so that we
could have the correct temperature.

The standard enthalpy of formation of coffee cup calorimeters is higher than that of copper
calorimeters. The change of temperature in the copper calorimeter is higher than that in the
coffee cup calorimeter because the heat loss to the surrounding is more in the copper calorimeter.
Based on the formula q = mc∆T, the heat of reaction ,q increases when the temperature changes,
∆T increases as q is directly proportional to ∆T. The standard enthalpy, ∆H increases when the
heat of reaction, q increases as ∆H is directly proportional to q by referring to the formula ∆H =
q/n.
CONCLUSIONS

The heat capacity of the copper calorimeter is higher than the heat capacity of the coffee cup
calorimeter.

The standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide, ∆H°f in coffee cup calorimeter is
-72.362 kJmol-1 and standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide, ∆H°f in copper
calorimeters is -148.015 kJ/mol.

REFERENCES

Arther Adamson (1970). A Textbook of Physical Chemistry, 2th Edition, Academic Press.

Shoemaker, D.P. (1989). Experiments in Physical Chemistry, International Edition.

McGraw-Hill.

Laidler, Keith (1993). The World of Physical Chemistry, 2th Edition, Oxford
University Press.
http://faculty.cbu.ca/chowley/chem1104lab/CalorimetryHO.pdf

QUESTIONS

1. a) Which of the two calorimeters: coffee cup calorimeter or copper calorimeter has a higher
heat capacity?
-Copper calorimeter.
b) What conclusion can you make regarding the relationship of heat capacity of
calorimeter with temperature change of the reactions?
-↑q = C∆T↓. The heat capacity of the calorimeter increases when the temperature change of the
reactions decreases.

2. For the following problems, assume that the volume of the final solution is 200cm3, the
density of the solution is 1.00gmL-1 and the specific heat capacity of the solution is the same as
the water (4.184Jg-1°C) .

a) When 0.800g of Ca metal is added to 200cm3 of 0.500 M HCl(aq) according to the method
described in Procedure B, a temperature increase of 13.0°C is observed. What is ∆Hrxn at room
temperature of the reaction Ca(s) + 2H+ (aq)?

Ca(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2(g)

No of mole of Ca = mass of Ca No of mole of HCl = MV
molar mass Ca = (0.500M)(0.20L)
= 0.800 g = 0.1000 mol HCl
40.078gmol-1
= 0.0200 mol Ca
1 mol of Ca = 1 mol of CaCl2 2 mol of HCl = 1 mol of MgCl
0.0200 mol Ca = 0.0200 mol CaCl2 0.1000 mol HCl = 0.0500 mol
MgCl2
Ca is the limiting reactant
∆T = 13.0°C
qreaction = mc∆T
= (200g)(4.18g-1°C-1)(13.0°C)
= 10.868 kJ
∆Hrxn = 10.868 kJ
0.0200 mol
 = -543.40 kJ/mol

b) When 1.12g of CaO is added to 200cm3 of 0.500 M HCl(aq) according to the

method described in Procedure B, a temperature increase of 4.62°C is observed.
What is ∆Hrxn at room temperature of the reaction CaO(s) + 2H+ (aq)?
CaO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2O(g)
No of mole of CaO = mass of CaO No of mole of HCl = MV
molar mass CaO = (0.500M)(0.20L)
= 1.12 g = 0.1000 mol HCl
56.08gmol-1
= 0.0294 mol CaO

1 mol of CaO = 1 mol of CaCl2 2 mol of HCl = 1 mol of CaCl

0.0294 mol CaO = 0.0294 mol CaCl2 0.1000 mol HCl = 0.0500 mol CaCl2
CaO is the limiting reactant

∆T = 4.62°C
qreaction = mc∆T
= (200g)(4.18g-1°C-1)(4.62°C)
=3.862 kJ
∆Hrxn = 3.862 kJ
0.0294 mol
= -131.36 kJ/mol
3. A student carelessly inserts the thermometer while assembling the coffee cup
calorimeter and a large hole is torn in the plastid lid. How will this affect his
experimental results?
-The heat of water will be lost to the surrounding through the large hole. Hence, it will affect the
temperature of hot water to decrease faster than usual. Thus, the temperature change will be
increased.