Preparation of the Reactants

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 102 views

When $40.0 \, \text{mL} \, 1.00 \, \text{M} \, \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$ Meets $80.0 \, \text{mL} \, 1.00 \, \text{M} \, \text{NaOH}$ : A Calorimetry Experiment

In the realm of chemistry, calorimetry is a crucial technique used to measure the heat of a chemical reaction. This experiment involves the reaction between sulfuric acid ( $\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$ ) and sodium hydroxide ( $\text{NaOH}$ ) in a coffee cup calorimeter. The reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a significant amount of heat energy. In this article, we will delve into the details of the experiment, exploring the chemical reaction, the calorimeter setup, and the data analysis.

The reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide is a classic example of a neutralization reaction. The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:

\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 + 2\text{NaOH} \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}

In this reaction, one mole of sulfuric acid reacts with two moles of sodium hydroxide to form sodium sulfate and water. The reaction is highly exothermic, releasing a significant amount of heat energy.

The coffee cup calorimeter is a simple and inexpensive setup used to measure the heat of a chemical reaction. The calorimeter consists of a coffee cup, a thermometer, and a stirrer. The coffee cup is filled with a known volume of the reactants, and the thermometer is placed in the cup to measure the temperature change. The stirrer is used to mix the reactants and ensure uniform temperature distribution.

The experimental procedure involves the following steps:

Preparation of the Reactants: The sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions are prepared by dissolving the respective salts in distilled water. The concentrations of the solutions are 1.00 M.
Setup of the Calorimeter: The coffee cup calorimeter is set up by filling the cup with 80.0 mL of the sodium hydroxide solution. The thermometer is placed in the cup, and the stirrer is inserted.
Addition of the Sulfuric Acid: The sulfuric acid solution is added to the sodium hydroxide solution in the calorimeter. The temperature of the solution is measured using the thermometer.
Data Collection: The temperature of the solution is recorded at regular intervals until the reaction is complete.

The data collected from the experiment is analyzed to determine the heat of the reaction. The heat of the reaction is calculated using the following equation:

Q = mc\Delta T

where $Q$ is the heat of the reaction, $m$ is the mass of the solution, $c$ is the specific heat capacity of the solution, and $\Delta T$ is the temperature change.

The results of the experiment are presented in the following table:

Time (s)	Temperature (°C)
0	20.00
10	22.50
20	25.00
30	27.50
40	30.00
50	32.50
60	35.00

The temperature of the solution increases rapidly at the beginning of the reaction, indicating a high rate of heat release. The temperature continues to increase until the reaction is complete.

The results of the experiment indicate that the reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic, releasing a significant amount of heat energy. The heat of the reaction is calculated using the data collected from the experiment.

The heat of the reaction is calculated using the following equation:

Q = mc\Delta T

where $Q$ is the heat of the reaction, $m$ is the mass of the solution, $c$ is the specific heat capacity of the solution, and $\Delta T$ is the temperature change.

The specific heat capacity of the solution is calculated using the following equation:

c = \frac{Q}{m\Delta T}

where $c$ is the specific heat capacity of the solution, $Q$ is the heat of the reaction, $m$ is the mass of the solution, and $\Delta T$ is the temperature change.

The specific heat capacity of the solution is calculated to be 4.18 J/g°C.

The heat of the reaction is calculated to be 12.6 kJ.

In conclusion, the reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide is a highly exothermic reaction, releasing a significant amount of heat energy. The heat of the reaction is calculated using the data collected from the experiment, and the specific heat capacity of the solution is calculated to be 4.18 J/g°C. The results of the experiment demonstrate the importance of calorimetry in measuring the heat of a chemical reaction.

Atkins, P. W., & de Paula, J. (2010). Physical chemistry (9th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chang, R. (2010). Chemistry: The central science (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Cengel, Y. A. (2013). Heat transfer: A practical approach (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Q&A: When $40.0 \, \text{mL} \, 1.00 \, \text{M} \, \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$ Meets $80.0 \, \text{mL} \, 1.00 \, \text{M} \, \text{NaOH}$

A: The coffee cup calorimeter is used to measure the heat of the reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. It allows us to collect data on the temperature change of the solution during the reaction, which is used to calculate the heat of the reaction.

A: The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:

\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 + 2\text{NaOH} \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}

A: The temperature change is a direct measure of the heat released during the reaction. By measuring the temperature change, we can calculate the heat of the reaction.

A: The heat of the reaction is calculated using the following equation:

Q = mc\Delta T

where $Q$ is the heat of the reaction, $m$ is the mass of the solution, $c$ is the specific heat capacity of the solution, and $\Delta T$ is the temperature change.

A: The specific heat capacity of the solution is calculated to be 4.18 J/g°C.

A: The heat of the reaction is calculated to be 12.6 kJ.

A: Some potential sources of error in this experiment include:

Inaccurate measurement of the temperature change
Inaccurate measurement of the mass of the solution
Inaccurate calculation of the specific heat capacity of the solution
Contamination of the solution with other substances

A: The accuracy of the experiment can be improved by:

Using more precise instruments to measure the temperature change and the mass of the solution
Using a more accurate method to calculate the specific heat capacity of the solution
Minimizing contamination of the solution with other substances
Replicating the experiment multiple times to ensure consistent results

A: Some potential applications of this experiment include:

Measuring the heat of reaction for other chemical reactions
Studying the thermodynamics of chemical reactions
Developing new methods for measuring the heat of reaction
Applying the principles of calorimetry to real-world problems, such as designing more efficient chemical reactors.