CALORIMETRY

FINAL LABORATORY
REPORT

SUBMITTED TO:
Prof. Dante Bernabe

GROUP 1 – CM011L/A1
INTRODUCTION

Calorimetry is the process of measuring the amount of heat released or absorbed during a
chemical reaction. By knowing the change in heat, it can be determined whether or not a reaction
is exothermic (releases heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat). Calorimetry also plays a large part
of everyday life, controlling the metabolic rates in humans and consequently maintaining such
functions like body temperature.
The term "calorimetry" comes from the Latin calor ("heat") and
Greek metron("measure"), so it means "measuring heat." Devices used to perform calorimetry
measurements are called calorimeters.
Since heat is a form of energy, it follows the rules of conservation of energy. If a system
is contained in thermal isolation (in other words, heat cannot enter or leave the system), then
any heat energy that is lost in one part of the system has to be gained in another part of the
system.

Now let's assume that instead of hot coffee in a thermos, you had water inside a
calorimeter. The calorimeter is well insulated, and a thermometer is built into the calorimeter to
precisely measure the temperature of the water inside. If we were to then put ice into the water, it
would melt—just like in the coffee example. But this time, the calorimeter is continually
measuring the temperature of the water. Heat is leaving the water and going into the ice, causing
it to melt, so if you watched the temperature on the calorimeter, you'd see the temperature of the
water dropping. Eventually, all of the ice would be melted and the water would reach a new state
of thermal equilibrium, in which the temperature is no longer changing.

From the change in temperature in the water, you can then calculate the amount of heat
energy that it took to cause the melting of the ice. And that is calorimetry.

The purpose of making calorimetric measurements on minerals and other substances is to

obtain enthalpy information. The enthalpy values that are measured relate to the bond strengths
in a substance and constitute one of several types of energy used to determine the stability
conditions of geologic materials. With enthalpy and other information, one can make
thermodynamic calculations that predict the conditions under which a mineral or mineral
assemblage is stable.
CALORIMETRY
PROCEDURES
PROCEDURE OVERVIEW
Three different experiments are completed in a “double” coffee cup calorimeter. Each
experiment requires careful mass, volume, and temperature measurements before and after the
mixing of the respective components. Calculations are based on an interpretation of plotted data.
Be aware of the number of significant figures when recording data. Ask your instructor which
parts of this experiment you are to complete. You and a partner are to complete at least two trials
for each part assigned. The temperature versus time curves to be plotted in Parts A.5, B.4, and
C.4 can be established by using a thermal probe that is connected directly to either a calculator or
a computer with the appropriate software. If this thermal sensing and/or recording apparatus is
available in the laboratory, consult with your instructor for its use and adaptation to the
experiment. The probe merely replaces the glass or digital thermometer.

A. Specific Heat of a Metal

Prepare a boiling water bath in a 400-mL beaker.

1. Prepare the metal. Obtain 10–30 g of an unknown dry metal from your instructor. Record
the number of the unknown metal on the Report Sheet. Use weighing paper to measure its
mass on your assigned balance. Transfer the metal to a dry, 200-mm test tube. Place the
200-mm test tube in a 400-mL beaker filled with water well above the level of the metal
sample in the test tube. Heat the water to boiling and maintain this temperature for ~10
minutes so that the metal reaches thermal equilibrium with the boiling water. Proceed to
Part A.2 while the water is heating.
2. Prepare the water in the calorimeter. The apparatus for the calorimetry experiment.
Obtain two 6- or 8-oz Styrofoam coffee cups, a plastic lid, stirrer, and a 110° glass or
digital thermometer. Thoroughly clean the Styrofoam cups with several rinses of
deionized water. Measure and record the combined mass (±0.01 g) of the calorimeter (the
two Styrofoam cups, the plastic lid, and the stirrer).
3. Using a graduated cylinder, add ~20.0 mL of water and measure and record the mass of
the calorimeter plus water. Secure the glass or digital (Figure 25.3) thermometer with a
clamp and position the bulb or thermal sensor below the water surface. (Caution:
Carefully handle a glass thermometer. If the thermometer is accidentally broken, notify
your instructor immediately.)
4. Measure and record the temperatures of the metal and water. Oncethermal equilibrium
(after ~10 minutes) has been reached in Parts A.1 and A.2, measure and record the
temperatures of the boiling water and the water in the calorimeter. Record the
temperatures using all certain digits plus one uncertain digit.

5. Transfer the hot metal to the cool water and record the data. Remove the test tube from
the boiling water and quickly transfer only the metal to the water in the calorimeter.
Replace the lid and swirl the contents gently. Record the water temperature as a function
of time (about 5-second intervals for 1 minute and then 30–45-second intervals for ~5
minutes) on the table at the end of the Report Sheet.
6. Plot the data. Plot the temperature (y-axis) versus time (x-axis) on the top half of a sheet
of linear graph paper or by using appropriate software. The maximum temperature is the
intersection point of two lines: (1) the best line drawn through the data points on the
cooling portion of the curve and (2) a line drawn perpendicular to the time axis at the
mixing time when the metal is added to the water. Have your instructor approve your
graph.
7. Do it again. Repeat Parts A.1 through A.5 for the same dry metal sample. Plot the data on
the bottom half of the same sheet of linear graph paper.
B. Enthalpy (Heat) of Neutralization for an Acid–Base Reaction

1. Measure the volume and temperature of the HCl. Measure 50.0 mL of 1.M HCl in a
clean graduated cylinder. Measure and record its temperature.
2. Measure the volume and temperature of the NaOH. Using a second clean graduated
cylinder, transfer 50.0 mL of a standard 1.0 M NaOH solution to the dry calorimeter
(see Figure 25.4). Record the temperature and exact molar concentration of the NaOH
solution.

3. Collect the data. Carefully but quickly add the acid to the base, replace the
calorimeter lid, and swirl gently. Read and record the temperature and time every 5
seconds for 1 minute and thereafter every 30–45 seconds for ~5 minutes.
4. Plot the data. Plot the temperature (y-axis) versus time (x-axis) on the top half of a
sheet of linear graph paper or by using appropriate software. Determine the maxi-
mum temperature as was done in Part A.5. Have your instructor approve your graph.
5. Do it again. Repeat the acid–base experiment, Parts B.1 through B.4. Plot the data on
the bottom half of the same sheet of graph paper.
6. Change the acid and repeat the neutralization reaction. Repeat Parts B.1 through B.5,
substituting 1.1 M HNO3 for 1.1 M HCl. On the Report Sheet, compare the ∆Hn
values for the two strong acid–strong base reactions.
C. Enthalpy (Heat) of Solution for the Dissolution of a Salt
Measure the mass of salt for each of the separate trials (Part C.5) while occupying the
balance.

1. Prepare the salt. On weighing paper, measure ~5.0 g (±0.001 g) of the assigned salt.
Record the name of the salt and its mass on the Report Sheet.

2. Prepare the calorimeter. Measure the mass of the dry calorimeter. Using your clean
graduated cylinder, add ~20.0 mL of deionized water to the calorimeter. Measure the
combined mass of the calorimeter and water. Secure the thermometer with a clamp
and position the bulb or thermal sensor below the water surface (see Figure 25.4) and
record its temperature.
3. Collect the temperature data. Carefully add (do not spill) the salt to the calorimeter,
replace the lid, and swirl gently. Read and record the temperature and time at 5-
second intervals for 1 minute and thereafter every 30–45 seconds for ~5 minutes.
4. Plot the data. Plot the temperature (y-axis) versus time (x-axis) on the top half of a
sheet of linear graph paper or by using appropriate software. Determine the maximum
(for an exothermic process) or minimum (for an endothermic process) temperature as
was done in Part A.5. Have your instructor approve your graph.
5. Do it again. With a second salt sample, repeat the dissolution of your assigned salt,
Parts C.1 through C.4. Plot the data on the bottom half of the same sheet of linear
graph paper.
 CALORIMETRY
PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET
EXPERIMENT 3: CALORIMETRY PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

B. Enthalpy (Heat) of Neutralization for an Acid-Base Reaction

HCl+ NaOH HN O3 + NaOH
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2
1. Volume of Acid (mL) 50mL 50mL
2. Temperature of Acid (° C ) 30° C 32° C
3. Volume of NaOH (mL) 50mL 50mL
4. Temperature of NaOH (
22° C 22° C
° C)
5. Exact molar concentration
0.9832mol / L 0.9832mol / L
of NaOH (mol / L)
6. Maximum temperature
38° C 32° C
from graph (° C )
Calculations for Enthalpy (Heat) of Neutralization for an Acid-Base Reaction
1. Average initial
temperature of acid and 26° C 27° C
NaOH(° C)
2. Temperature change, ∆ T
12° C 5° C
(° C)
3. Volume of final mixture (
100mL 100mL
mL)
4. Mass of final mixture (g)
(Assume the density of the 100 g 100 g
solution is 1.0 g/mL.)
5. Specific heat of
4.18 J / g ∙° C 4.18 J / g ∙° C
mixture
6. Heat evolved (J) 5016 J 2090 J
−¿¿
7. Moles of O H reacted,
0.04916 mol 0.04916 mol
the limiting reactant (mol )
8. Moles of H 2 O formed (
0.04916 mol 0.04916 mol
mol )
9. ∆ H n ¿) kJ kJ
−102.0341 −42.5142
mol H O
2
mol H O 2

10. Average ∆ H n ¿)

A. Specific Heat of a Metal

Trial 1 Trial 2
1. Mass of metal ( g) 10 g
2. Temperature of metal
98° C
(boiling water) (° C )
3. Mass of calorimeter ( g) 31.22 g
4. Mass of calorimeter + water
49.65 g
( g)
5. Mass of water ( g) 18.43 g
6. Temperature of water in
32° C
calorimeter (° C )
7. Maximum temperature of
metal and water from graph 36° C
(° C )
Calculations for Specific Heat
of a Metal
1. Temperature change of
4° C
water, ∆ T (° C )
2. Heat gained by water (J) 308.15 J
3. Temperature change of
-62° C
metal, ∆ T (° C )
4. Specific heat of metal (
0.4970 J / g ∙° C
J / g ∙° C )
5. Average specific heat of
metal ( J / g ∙° C )

Enthalpy (Heat) of Solution for the Dissolution of a Salt

Trial 1 Trial 2
1. Mass of salt ( g) 5g
2. Moles of salt (mol) 0.0806 mol
3. Mass of calorimeter ( g) 31.22 g
4. Mass of calorimeter +
49.65 g
water ( g)
5. Mass of water ( g) 18.43 g
6. Initial Temperature of water
30 °C
(° C )
7. Final Temperature of
20 °C
mixture from graph (°C)
Calculations for Enthalpy (Heat) of Solution for the Dissolution of a Salt
1. Temperature change of
-10 ° C
solution, ∆ T (° C )
2. Heat change of water (J) -836 J
3. Heat change of salt (° C ) -78.5 J
4. Total enthalpy change (J) 1045 J
5. Δs (J/mol salt) 11346 J
6. Average Δs (J/mol salt)
 Calorimetry is the measurement of the amount of heat gained or lost during some
particular physical or chemical change. It is associated with determining the changes in energy of
a system by measuring the heat exchanged with the surroundings. A calorimeter is a device used
to measure the quantity of heat transferred to or from an object. This experiment is divided into
three (3) parts: Specific Heat of a Metal (A), Enthalpy of Neutralization for an Acid-Base
Reaction (B) and Enthalpy of Solution for the Dissolution of a Salt (C).
For the first part of the experiment, the aim is to determine the specific heat of the given
unknown metal utilizing the concept of calorimetry. Following the procedures, we were able to
collect all the needed data in order to make use of the given formula to solve for the specific heat
of a metal. We did two trials for this experiment and observed in both times that as the time
increased, the temperature decreased and became constant at a certain point in time when it
reached equilibrium.
In the next part, the goal was to find the heat of neutralization in acid-base reactions and
two different acids were used in our experiment. The reactants used were HCl + NaOH and
HNO3 + NaOH. When acids and bases are combined, neutralization reaction occurs which
produces salt, and water and the evolution of heat. This experiment utilized a Styrofoam
calorimeter to isolate and measure this heat formed by reactions involving two different acids
when mixed with the strong base. In order to account for the heat absorbed by the calorimeter,
the heat capacity of the calorimeter was determined by measuring the temperature change when a
known amount of warm water and cold water is added to the calorimeter. The amount of heat
lost to calorimeter is the difference between the heat lost by the warm water and that gained by
the cool water. The temperature data from this reaction was used to calculate the heat produced
for each mole of the acid used, also known as the enthalpy or heat of neutralization. From the
two trials each of two different acids, we calculated an average enthalpy change per mole of
-24.035 kJ/mol H2O and -26.125 kJ/mol H2O for HCl + NaOH and HNO 3 + NaOH, respectively.
The graph of both reactions showed that the temperature increases until it reaches a constant
value as time increases.
For the last part, the aim was to calculate the heat of solution for the dissolution of a salt.
The salt we used was ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). Seeing how the temperature decreased when
the salt was added into the water, we can say that it produced an endothermic reaction wherein
the heat energy went from the water into the salt. From the graph, we can see that the
temperature decreased until it reached equilibrium as the time increased. Only one trial was done
for this experiment and the calculated enthalpy change per mol salt was 1045 J/mol salt.
 CALORIMETRY
LABORATORY QUESTIONS
LABORATORY QUESTIONS

1. Part A.1. The 200-mm test tube also contained some water (besides the metal) that
was subsequently added to the calorimeter (in Part A.4). Considering a higher
specific heat for water, will the temperature change in the calorimeter be higher,
lower, or unaffected by this technique error? Explain.
From this technique error, the temperature change of the calorimeter will be
lower. Considering a higher specific heat for water, this means that the water requires
more energy to raise its temperature thus a lower change in temperature of calorimeter is
yielded. Also, the test tube contained some water aside from the metal which contribute
to the mass of water in the calorimeter. A bigger mass means higher heat required to heat
it and result in a lower change in temperature.
2. Part A.5. In measuring the specific heat of metal, Josh used the highest measured
temperature for calculating the metal’s specific heat rather than the extrapolated
temperature. Will this decision result in a higher or lower specific heat value for the
metal? Explain.
Josh’s decision will result in a lower specific heat value for the metal. By using
the max temperature recorded, the change of temperature of the metal will be greater
while the temperature change of water will be less. This can also be proven by using the
Q
formula c = where a greater change in temperature results in a greater denominator
m ΔT
which will yield a lower specific heat.

3. Part B. The enthalpy of neutralization for all strong acid—strong base reactions
should be the same within experimental error. Explain. Will that also be the case for
all weak acid- strong base reactions? Explain.
The reason why the enthalpy of neutralization for all strong acid-strong base
reactions are the same within experimental error is that the reaction would only be
affected by the interaction H+ + OH- =H2O. Other present ions would not matter and thus
the enthalpy would be the same regardless the acid or the alkali. In the case of weak acid-
strong base reactions, the enthalpy of neutralization would be lesser. This is mainly
because the weak acids would not completely disassociate to ions.
4. Part B. Heat is lost to the Styrofoam calorimeter. Assuming a 6.22ºC temperature
change for the reaction of HCl(aq) with NaOH(aq), calculate the heat loss to the
inner 2.35-g Styrofoam cup. The specific heat of Styrofoam is 1.34 J/g ·ºC.

1.34 J
Q=2.35 g × × 6.22° C=19.59 J
g°C
5. Part B.3. Jacob carelessly added only 40.0 ml (instead of the recommended 50.0 ml) of 1.1
M HCl to the 50.0 ml of 1.0 M NaOH. Explain the consequence of the error.
Since there will be less protons to neutralize the base, the new solution will have a higher
pH. The modification of the volume will not be as consequential.

6. Part B.3. The chemist used a thermometer that was miscalibrated by a plus 2°C over the
entire thermometer scale. Will this factory error cause the reported energy of
neutralization, ∆Hn, to be higher, lower, or unaffected? Explain.
The energy of neutralization will remain unaffected since the volume will be kept
constant. Also, as the acid’s concentration increases, its acid particles will also increase.
Therefore, the concentration is directly proportional to the temperature change. Since
neutralization is an exothermic reaction, the temperature will increase during the reaction until it
reaches its point of neutralization. After that, the temperature will start decreasing resulting to the
effect of temperature getting nullified.

7. Part C.3 If some of the salt remains adhered to the weighing paper and is therefore not
transferred to the calorimeter), will the enthalpy of solution be reported too high or too
low?
If some of the salt remains adhered to the weighing paper, then the enthalpy of solution be
reported will be too low. Since not all of the salt that was supposed to be the sample was not
included in the process. Thus, the measured heat will be the heat of the smaller mass and not of
the total mass. Therefore, enthalpy of the solution will be lower than that of expected and
calculated.

8. Part C. The dissolution of ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, in the water is an endothermic

process. Since the calorimeter is not a perfect insulator, will the enthalpy of solution, ∆Hs,
for ammonium nitrate be reported as too high or too low if this heat change is ignored?
Explain.
The enthalpy of the solution for ammonium nitrate will be reported as too high if this heat
change is ignored. Since the calorimeter does not absorb all the heat, the enthalpy will be too
high. More heat will have to be put into the system because it does not absorb all the heat.
Therefore, the enthalpy of the solution, ∆Hs, would be reported as too high
CALORIMETRY
CALCULATIONS
COMPUTATIONS

Calculations:
A. Specific Heat of a Metal

Change in Temperature
39
38
37
Temperature (◦C)

36
35
34
33
32
31
30
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
TIme (s)

Masswater =Masscalorimeter +water −Masscalorimeter

Masswater =49.65 g−31.22 g

Masswater =18.43 g

ΔT water=T Final −T Initial

ΔT water=36 ° C−32° C

ΔT water=4 ° C

Q water =Masswater × Specific Heat water × ΔT water

4.18 J
Q water =18.43 g × × 4 °C
g∙ ° C
Qwater =308.15 J

ΔT metal =T Final −T Initial

 ΔT metal =36 ° C−98 °C

ΔT metal =−62° C

Q water ( Gained )=−Q metal (Lost )

Q metal =Mass metal × Specific Heat metal × ΔT metal

Q metal
Specific Heat metal=
Massmetal × ΔT metal
−308.15 J
Specific Heat metal=
10 g ×−62° C
−308.15 J
Specific Heat metal=
10 g ×−62° C
J
Specific Heat metal=0.4970
g°C

B. Enthalpy (Heat) of Neutralization for an Acid-Base Reaction

HCl+ NaOH

Change in Temperature
40
38
36
Temperature (◦C)

34
32
30
28
26
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time (s)

T initial of acid +T initial of NaOH

Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid∧NaOH =
2
30 ° C+22 ° C
Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid∧NaOH =
2
Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid∧NaOH =26 ° C

ΔT =MaximumTemp .−Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid ∧NaOH

ΔT =38° C−26 ° C
ΔT =12° C

Volume mixture=Volume acid −Volume NaOH

Volume mixture=50 mL−50 mL

Volume mixture=100 mL

Massmixture =Volumemixture × Density mixture

g
Massmixture =100 mL×1.0
mL
Massmixture =100 g

Q=Mass mixture × Specific Heat mixture × ΔT mixture

4.18 J
Q=100 g × × 12° C
g∙°C
Q=5016 J

mol 1L 0.9832mol
OH−¿ =50 mL× × ¿
1000mL L

mol OH −¿
=0.04916 mol ¿

HCl+ NaOH → NaCl+ H 2 O

1 mol H O
mol H O=0.04916 mol × 2

2
1mol NaOH

mol H O=0.04916 mol

2
 −Q
ΔH =
mol H O
2

1 kJ
−5016 J ×
1000 J
ΔH =
0.04916 mol H O 2

kJ
ΔH =−102.0341
mol H 2 O

HN O 3 + NaOH

Change in Temperature
33
32
31
Temperature (◦C)

30
29
28
27
26
25
24
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time (s)

T initial of acid +T initial of NaOH

Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid∧NaOH =
2
32 ° C +22° C
Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid∧NaOH =
2
Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid∧NaOH =27 ° C

ΔT =MaximumTemp .−Ave . Initial Temp . of Acid ∧NaOH

ΔT =32° C−27 ° C
ΔT =5° C

Volume mixture=Volume acid −Volume NaOH

Volume mixture=50 mL−50 mL

Volume mixture=100 mL

Massmixture =Volumemixture × Density mixture

g
Massmixture =100 mL×1.0
mL
Massmixture =100 g

Q=Mass mixture × Specific Heat mixture × ΔT mixture

4.18 J
Q=100 g × × 5°C
g∙°C
Q=2090 J

mol 1L 0.9832mol
OH−¿ =50 mL× × ¿
1000mL L

mol OH −¿
=0.04916 mol ¿

HCl+ NaOH → NaCl+ H 2 O

1 mol H O
mol H O=0.04916 mol × 2

2
1mol NaOH

mol H O=0.04916 mol

2

−Q
ΔH =
mol H O 2

1 kJ
−2090 J ×
1000 J
ΔH =
0.04916 mol H O 2

kJ
ΔH =−42.5142
mol H 2 O
C. Enthalpy (Heat) of Neutralization for the Dissolution of Salt

Change in Temperature
35
30
Change in Tempreature (◦C)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Time (s)

ΔT =final temperature−initial temperature

∆ T =20 ° C−30° C
∆ T =−10 ° C
Q of water =−mc ∆ T
J
(
Q= (20 g ) 4.18
g∙℃ )
(−10℃ )

Q=−836 J
Q of salt =mc ∆ T
 J
Q=(5 g)( 1.57 )(−10℃ )
g ∙℃
Q=−78.5 J
Total enthalpy change=−( mass of salt +water )( c of water ) ( ∆ T )

J
(
∆ H =−( 25 g ) 4.18
g ∙℃ )
(−10 ℃ )

∆ H =1045 J
−Q of water±Qsalt
∆ H s=
moles of salt
−[(−836 J )+(−78.5 J )]
∆ H s=
0.0806 mol
J
∆ H s=11346
mol
CONCLUSION
The experiment used calorimeter in three different parts. For the first part, we were able
to solve for the specific heat of the unknown metal through an equation based on the law of
conservation of energy, assuming no heat was absorbed by the calorimeter when the metal
was put into the water. Thus, the quantity of heat lost by the hotter body is equal to that
gained by the colder body. For the second part, we found the heat of neutralization as we can
assume that the amount of heat absorbed/released by reaction is equal to the amount of heat
absorbed/released by the solution by using a good insulator such as the Styrofoam cup. For
the final part, we were able to measure the heat that was released by a known mass of water
when ammonium chloride dissolved and interacted with the ions of the water molecules and
found the reaction to be endothermic because of the decrease in final temperature.