Investigation 5B - INDIRECTLY DETERMINING

36
AN ENTHALPY CHANGE APPLYING HESS’ LAW

I n t e r n a t i o n a l
© ibid.com.au 2 0 1 4 T h i s p a g e m a y o n l y b e l e g a l l y u s e d u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f s a l e

Name ________________________ Date ____________ Teacher ____________________________

There are many reactions for which direct measurement of the enthalpy of reaction is difficult and the thermal
decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate is such a reaction. In these cases, it is often possible to determine the
enthalpy of reaction by direct measurements on more accessible related chemical reactions and then applying Hess’
Law. The investigation below illustrates this approach.

METHOD
1. Measure out, using a measuring cylinder, 100 cm3 of 2 mol dm-3 hydrochloric acid into an expanded polystyrene

B a c c a l a u re a t e
container of at least 250 cm3 capacity.
2. Weigh out accurately about 14 g of sodium hydrogencarbonate in a weighing bottle.
3. Measure the temperature of the acid and when you are sure it is remaining constant add the sodium
hydrogencarbonate to it (you may have to do this a little at a time otherwise the evolution of the gas may cause
liquid to overflow). Measure the temperature every 30 s for ten minutes, or until you have enough data to assess
the rate of cooling of the warm solution.
4. Reweigh the weighing bottle.
5. Repeat steps 1) to 4) but taking about 8 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate, rather than the 14 g of sodium
hydrogencarbonate.

C h e m i s t r y
DATA COLLECTION
Sodium hydrogencarbonate Sodium carbonate

Initial mass g   Initial mass g  

Final mass g   Final mass g  

I n v e s t i g a t i o n s
Time Temp Time Temp Time Temp Time Temp
(s) (oC) (s) (oC) (s) (oC) (s) (oC)
0 330 0 330
30 360 30 360
60 390 60 390
90 420 90 420
120 450 120 450
150 480 150 480
fo r

180 510 180 510

210 540 210 540
S t a n d a rd

240 570 240 570

270 600 270 600
300 630 300 630

Uncertainties: Time = ± _________ s Temp = ± _________ °C

Le v e l

Volume of 2 mol dm-3 HCl for both = _________ ± ______ cm3

 Investigation 5B - INDIRECTLY DETERMINING
37
AN ENTHALPY CHANGE APPLYING HESS’ LAW

I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Relevant qualitative observations made during the course of the investigation:
© ibid.com.au 2 0 1 4 T h i s p a g e m a y o n l y b e l e g a l l y u s e d u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f s a l e

DATA ANALYSIS

B a c c a l a u re a t e
a) Draw temperature – time graphs for the two reactions, use the axes below with different colours for the two
reactions or if you prefer, use graphing software. From the graphs estimate the changes in temperature that
would have occurred, had the reactions been instantaneous, and their probable uncertainties.

C h e m i s t r y
I n v e s t i g a t i o n s
fo r
S t a n d a rd
Le v e l

∆T for NaHCO3 = _______ ± _____ oC ∆T for Na2CO3 = _______ ± _____ oC

 Investigation 5B - INDIRECTLY DETERMINING
38
AN ENTHALPY CHANGE APPLYING HESS’ LAW

I n t e r n a t i o n a l
© ibid.com.au 2 0 1 4 T h i s p a g e m a y o n l y b e l e g a l l y u s e d u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f s a l e

b) Calculate the enthalpy change for the reaction of 1 mol of sodium hydrogencarbonate with excess hydrochloric
acid and its associated uncertainty.

c) Calculate the enthalpy change for the reaction of 1 mol of sodium carbonate with excess hydrochloric acid and

B a c c a l a u re a t e
its associated uncertainty.

d) Write balanced equations, including state symbols, for the two reactions that you carried out.

C h e m i s t r y
e) Draw a Hess’ law cycle that will enable you to combine these data to determine the enthalpy change for the
thermal decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate according to the equation:

2 NaHCO3 (s) → Na2CO3 (s) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

I n v e s t i g a t i o n s
f) Combine the values found in 2) and 3) to calculate the enthalpy change associated with the thermal
decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate and its associated uncertainty.
fo r
S t a n d a rd
Le v e l
 Investigation 5B - INDIRECTLY DETERMINING
39
AN ENTHALPY CHANGE APPLYING HESS’ LAW

I n t e r n a t i o n a l
EVALUATION
© ibid.com.au 2 0 1 4 T h i s p a g e m a y o n l y b e l e g a l l y u s e d u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f s a l e

a) The accepted enthalpy change for the thermal decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate, according to the
equation given above, is +85 kJ. How does your value compare with this?

B a c c a l a u re a t e
b) What do you consider to be the major sources of error in your determination of this value? You should state
whether these are systematic or random errors and, in the case of the former, deduce the direction in which
they would have affected the final result.

C h e m i s t r y
c) How could you modify the investigation to increase the precision and accuracy of the result?

I n v e s t i g a t i o n s
d) What would be the difficulties in determining thermal decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate enthalpy
change directly?
fo r
S t a n d a rd
Le v e l