C7.
1
Student practical
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................
Required practical 4: Investigating temperature
changes
Aiming for 8
Specification references:
Required practical 4: Investigate the variables that affect temperature
changes in reacting solutions, such as, acid plus metals, acid plus carbonates,
neutralisations, displacement of metals.
C5.1.1 Energy transfer during exothermic and endothermic reactions
WS 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.7
Aims
In this required practical, you will monitor the temperature change of a chemical
reaction to classify it as exothermic or endothermic.
Learning outcomes
After completing this practical, you should be able to:
define exothermic and endothermic reactions
safely complete a calorimetry experiment for a reaction that takes place
in solution
explain, using observations from calorimetry, how to classify a reaction
as exothermic or endothermic
explain in detail how to carry out a calorimetry experiment
explain a chemical reaction in terms of energy transfer
evaluate errors of a calorimetry experiment
describe reactions that take place in solution using ionic equations.
Safety
Sodium hydroxide: CORROSIVE
Hydrochloric acid: IRRITANT
Potassium hydroxide: CORROSIVE
Copper(II) sulfate solution: HARMFUL/ IRRITANT/ CORROSIVE
Nitric acid: CORROSIVE
Wear chemical splash-proof eye protection and wash hands after the practical.
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This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 1
C7.1
Student practical
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................
Equipment
eye protection stirrer
two 50 cm3 measuring cylinders stopwatch
polystyrene cup 1.00 mol/dm3 hydrochloric acid
250 cm3 beaker 1.00 mol/dm3 nitric acid
weighing boat 1.00 mol/dm3 sodium hydroxide
balance iron filings
spatula 1.00 mol/dm3 potassium hydroxide
0–110 °C thermometer 1.00 mol/dm3 copper(II) sulfate solution
Setting the scene
In a chemical reaction a new substance is made. If the reactants have more
energy than the products, energy is released to the surroundings as the chemical
reaction happens. If the reactants have less energy than the products, energy is
taken in from the surroundings during the chemical reaction.
Exothermic reactions cause the temperature of the reaction to increase.
Endothermic reactions cause the temperature of the reaction to decrease.
One method for monitoring reactions in solutions is to use calorimetry. A
polystyrene cup is well insulated and can be used to hold the reaction. Using a
thermometer, the temperature at the start, during, and at the end of the reaction
can be recorded. If the temperature has increased, the reaction is exothermic.
If the temperature has decreased, then the reaction is endothermic.
You are going to plan an experiment to monitor a reaction in solution using
polystyrene cup calorimetry. You will then classify the reaction as exothermic or
endothermic. Your plan should include details about how you will record the
temperature of the reaction mixture. You should also write a risk assessment.
Once you have written your plan, your teacher should check that it is safe.
Then you will react:
copper sulfate and iron filings
hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide
nitric acid with potassium hydroxide.
Task
1 Plan an experiment to classify a chemical reaction as exothermic or endothermic.
What apparatus will you use to monitor the temperature changes in your
experiment? You may wish to draw a diagram.
How will you ensure that only the smallest amount of energy is lost to the
surroundings?
What volume of solution will you put in the beaker?
If you are adding a solid, how much will you use?
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C7.1
Student practical
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................
What are the risks of carrying out a calorimetry experiment using dilute
acids, copper(II) sulfate solution, and dilute alkalis?
How will you monitor the temperature of the reaction?
How will you know the chemical reaction is complete?
How does the classification of the chemical reaction as exothermic or
endothermic relate to energy transfer?
2 Check your plan with your teacher and then carry it out. You can use the
example method at the end of this worksheet if necessary.
3 Record your temperature measurements in a suitable results table.
4 Evaluate your calorimetry experiment.
What temperature change did you get? How did this compare with other
groups? How does this compare with accurate data?
Would you make any changes to your method if you were going to improve
the accuracy of your investigation?
Questions
1 When hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide, a salt and water are made.
a Write the balanced chemical equation, with state symbols, for the reaction
between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.
(1 mark)
b Write the ionic equation for the reaction between hydrochloric acid and
sodium hydroxide.
(1 mark)
c Explain whether you think the reaction was exothermic or endothermic and
relate this to energy transfer in the chemical reaction.
(3 marks)
2 When copper(II) sulfate solution reacts with iron filings, copper metal and a
salt are made.
a Write the balanced chemical equation, with state symbols, for the reaction
between copper(II) sulfate and iron.
(1 mark)
b Write the ionic equation for the reaction between copper(II) sulfate and iron.
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C7.1
Student practical
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................
(1 mark)
c Explain whether you think the reaction was exothermic or endothermic and
relate this to energy transfer in the chemical reaction.
(3 marks)
3 When nitric acid reacts with potassium hydroxide, a salt and water are made.
a Write the balanced chemical equation, with state symbols, for the reaction
between nitric acid and potassium hydroxide.
(1 mark)
b Write the ionic equation for the reaction between nitric acid and potassium
hydroxide.
(1 mark)
c Explain whether you think the reaction was exothermic or endothermic and
relate this to energy transfer in the chemical reaction.
(3 marks)
4 Polystyrene cup calorimetry can be used to monitor chemical reactions which
happen in solution.
a Justify the use of a polystyrene cup rather than a 250 cm3 beaker as a
calorimeter.
(2 marks)
b Explain why there is no temperature measurement at 2 minutes.
(1 mark)
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C7.1
Student practical
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................
c Suggest how the equipment could be improved to reduce the main error in
this experiment.
(3 marks)
Method
1 Use the first measuring cylinder to measure 25 cm3 of the sodium hydroxide solution and pour this
into the polystyrene cup.
2 Stand the polystyrene cup in the 250 cm3 beaker.
3 In the second measuring cylinder, measure 25 cm3 of hydrochloric acid.
4 Using the thermometer, measure the temperature of the sodium hydroxide every 30 seconds whilst
gently stirring.
5 After exactly 2 minutes add the hydrochloric acid and continue to stir and to record the temperature
of the solution every 30 seconds for 10 minutes.
6 Repeat this experiment twice:
with 25 cm3 of copper(II) sulfate and iron filings
with 25 cm3 potassium hydroxide and nitric acid.
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This resource sheet may have been changed from the original. 5
