EXPERIMENT 3

Calorimetry

Group 1 CM011/B8

Sofia Isabelle G. Garcia

CE-1
REPORT

The temperature change in the calorimeter will be unaffected by this technique error. The
original specific heat of water is 4.18 J/g•°C, but if this value increases that means that water will
take more energy to change the temperature. Therefore, an increase in the amount of water does
not make a difference because the specific heat of water was also increased. More water means
that the temperature of the water will decrease more because the mass increased. Because the
temperature change is lower, assuming the mass is constant, the amount of heat must be lower.

In measuring the specific heat of a metal, if one used the highest measured temperature for
calculating the metal’s specific heat rather than the extrapolated temperature. The extrapolated
temperature is used to determine the maximum temperature of the mixture rather than the highest
recorded temperature in the experiment, which his decision will result in a higher specific heat
value for the metal.

The enthalpy of neutralization for all strong acid-strong base reactions should be the same
within experimental error because Any neutralization reaction between a strong acid and strong
base will result in the following net ionic equation: H+ + OH- = H20 (all the other ions in the
equation are spectator ions and therefore are not in the net ionic equation). Because the overall
reaction is always the same regardless of the acid or base, the enthalpy change will also be the
same. If a weak acid is used, the enthalpy change will be less exothermic as some of the energy
evolved will be cancelled out by the energy needed to complete the dissociation of the
incompletely dissociated acid during the reaction.

On the other hand, heat is lost to the Styrofoam calorimeter. Assuming a 6.22 C temperature
change for the reaction of HCl (aq) with NaOH (aq), if we calculate the heat loss to the inner 2.35-
g Styrofoam cup. The specific heat of Styrofoam is 1.34 J/g C. The heat loss to the inner Styrofoam
cup can be calculated as q=mspht∆T. After substituting the values into the equation, we get q=
(2.35 g)(1.34 J/g•°C)(6.22°C)= 19.6 J. Therefore, 19.6 J of heat was lost to the inner Styrofoam
cup.

When one carelessly adds only 40.0 mL (instead of the recommended 50.0mL) of 1.1 M
HCl to the 50.0mL of 1.0 m NaOH. The consequence of the error will be40ml HCl reacting with
50ml NaOH The mole ratio is 1:1 in reaction. Some of the NaOH would not react so (Change in
H) would decrease.

If ever a misscalibrated by a plus 2 Cover the entire thermometer scale was used. This
factory error would carry through all experiments and have no effect because we are using (change
in H).

If some of the salt remains adhered to the weighing paper (and therefore is not transferred
to the calorimeter), the enthalpy of solution would be reported as too low if some of the salt is not
transferred to the calorimeter. This happens because the enthalpy of the solution is being measured
with a lower mass instead of the original, entire mass.

The dissolution of ammonium nitrate, NH4 NO3 in water is an endothermic process. Since
the calorimeter is not a perfect insulator, the enthalpy of solution, the enthalpy of the solution for
ammonium nitrate will be reported as too high if this heat change is ignored. The enthalpy will be
too high because the calorimeter does not absorb all the heat. Since it does not absorb all the heat,
more heat will have to be put into the system. Therefore, the enthalpy of the solution, ∆Hs, would
be reported as too high.
CONCLUSION

The conclusion of the experiment is that the styrofoam calorimeter can be acknowledged
as a function tool. The results could be deemed slightly accurate as the values provided by the
Styrofoam cup show similar readings to that of the commercial brand. However, there were
moreinsulation than the commercial brand calorimeter, containing more heat from the data, the
temperature was higher for the styrofoam than the commercial calorimeter. All it comes down to
is human error such as not cutting the hole on the lid properly as it could release the heat energy
more if the hole is too big. The effect of the use of styrofoam is an experiment is highlighted
positively if other materials such as beaker and plastic cups were considered to be used in place
of the styrofoam. The heat could escape more easily through the glass and to the holder’s hand if
a beaker is used. Paper cups would be useless as well as it conducts heat.