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Topical tasks (Enthalpy of reactions)

1. Sarah is conducting an experiment in her chemistry class. She dissolves 5.0 grams of NaOH
(sodium hydroxide) in 100 mL of water in a coffee cup calorimeter. She notices that the
temperature of the solution rises from 25.0°C to 35.0°C. Question:
Using this information, explain whether the dissolving of NaOH is an exothermic or
endothermic process. Justify your answer using the temperature change observed.
2. When 0.382g of ethanol was burnt, the heat evolved raised the temperature of 100g of
water from 16.5 c to 43.50C , calculate the heat of combustion of ethanol(the specific heat
capacity of water is 4.2J g-1 0C-1 , the molar mass of ethanol is 46g is the density of water is
100cm3 and the density of H20 is 1g/cm3.
3. The heat of combustion of methane is – 890 KJm0l-1. Calculate the volume of methane at
s.t.p that when burnt in excess oxygen would rise the temperature of 178g with water by
10oc (the specific heat capacity in water is 4.2J g-1 Oc-1
4. A compound Q of molecular mass 30 contains 80% carbon and 20% hydrogen(C=12, H= 1).
Calculate the empirical formular of Q. The enthalpy of combustion of Q is 84.7KJ mole -1
.Calculate the enthalpy change when 2.5g of Q is completely burnt in oxygen.

5. You are working in a school laboratory and asked to determine the enthalpy of
neutralization of hydrochloric acid (HCl) with sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
You are provided with the following materials:
• 50.0 mL of 1.0 mol/dm³ HCl at 25.0°C
• 50.0 mL of 1.0 mol/dm³ NaOH at 25.0°C

• A polystyrene cup (calorimeter)

• Thermometer
• Measuring cylinder
• Stirrer
You mix the two solutions in the polystyrene cup and record the highest temperature reached:
31.3°C

Task:

I. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction taking place.

II. Calculate the number of moles of HCl and NaOH used.
III. Identify the limiting reagent.

IV. Calculate the heat evolved in the reaction using q=mcΔTq = mc\Delta Tq=mcΔT, assuming the
total volume is 100.0 mL and the specific heat capacity of the solution is 4.18 J/g°C. (Assume
the density of the solution is 1.00 g/mL.)
V. Calculate the enthalpy of neutralization in kJ/mol.
VI. State two assumptions made in this experiment that may affect the accuracy of the enthalpy
change calculated.
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VII. Suggest one improvement to reduce heat loss during the experiment

Question six
You are investigating the enthalpy change of neutralization for two different strong acid–
strong base combinations in a lab experiment. You perform two separate reactions under
identical conditions using a calorimeter with known heat capacity.
Reaction 1:
• Reactants: 50.0 mL of 1.00 mol/dm³ HCl and 50.0 mL of 1.00 mol/dm³ NaOH
• Initial temperatures of both solutions: 25.0°C
• Maximum temperature recorded after mixing: 32.4°C
Reaction 2:
• Reactants: 50.0 mL of 1.00 mol/dm³ HNO₃ and 50.0 mL of 1.00 mol/dm³ KOH
• Initial temperatures: 25.0°C
• Maximum temperature recorded: 31.8°C
Additional Data:
• The calorimeter absorbs 145 J/°C.
• The specific heat capacity of the final solution is 4.18 J/g°C.
• Assume density of all solutions = 1.00 g/cm³
• Assume total solution mass = 100.0 g
Tasks:
I. Write balanced ionic equations for both neutralization reactions.
II. Calculate the number of moles of water formed in each reaction.
III. For Reaction 1, calculate the heat absorbed by:
a. The solution
b. The calorimeter
c. Hence, determine the total heat released by the reaction.
IV. Use your answer in (3) and the number of moles of water formed to calculate the
enthalpy of neutralization in kJ/mol
a. For Reaction 1.
V. Repeat the calculation for Reaction 2, and compare your result to Reaction 1.
VI. Given that both reactions involve strong acids and strong bases, explain why the
enthalpy values should theoretically be the same.
VII. Suggest three possible reasons why the experimental values may differ slightly.
VIII. If you repeated the experiment with ethanoic acid (a weak acid) and NaOH, would
you expect a higher or lower enthalpy of neutralization? Justify your answer.

Question seven
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A student investigates the enthalpy of combustion of four alcohols: methanol, ethanol, propanol,
and butanol. She burns a known mass of each alcohol to heat 100 g of water, and records the
temperature change.

Alcohol Mass of Alcohol Burned (g) Temperature Rise (°C)

Methanol 0.92 20.5

Ethanol 1.15 25.0

Propanol 1.42 29.8

Butanol 1.60 33.2

Assume:

• Specific heat capacity of water = 4.18 J/g°C

• Density of water = 1.00 g/cm³

• Molar masses:

o Methanol = 32 g/mol
o Ethanol = 46 g/mol
o Propanol = 60 g/mol

o Butanol = 74 g/mol
Tasks:
I. Calculate the energy transferred to the water (q = mcΔT) for each alcohol.
II. Calculate the number of moles of each alcohol burned.

III. Determine the enthalpy of combustion (ΔH_c) in kJ/mol for each alcohol.

IV. Plot a graph of number of carbon atoms in each alcohol (x-axis) vs enthalpy of combustion
(kJ/mol) (y-axis).
V. Describe the trend shown on the graph.
Question 8
A student is asked to comparing homologous Series using the following data

Hydrocarbon Molecular Formula ΔHc (kJ/mol)

Methane CH₄ -890

Ethane C₂H₆ -1560

Propane C₃H₈ -2220

Butane C₄H₁₀ -2877

Task:
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a) Plot a graph of number of carbon atoms (x-axis) vs enthalpy of combustion (kJ/mol, y-axis).
b) Describe the trend and explain why it is linear.
c) Predict the enthalpy of combustion for pentane and justify your answer based on the trend.

Question 9
Your given the following data, use it to solve the following tasks

Alcohol ΔHc (kJ/mol) Molar Mass (g/mol)

Methanol -715 32

Ethanol -1371 46

Propanol -2021 60

Butanol -2674 74

a) Calculate the energy released per gram of each alcohol.

b) Plot two graphs:
• ΔH per mole vs number of carbon atoms

• ΔH per gram vs number of carbon atoms

c) Which alcohol is the most efficient fuel by mass and why?
d) Discuss why industries might prefer ethanol over butanol, even if butanol has a more
negative ΔH.

Question 10

Given the following data

Alcohol Mass Burned (g) Temperature Rise (°C)

Ethanol 1.0 20

Ethanol 2.0 41

Ethanol 3.0 61

(Water mass = 100 g; c = 4.18 J/g°C)

Task:

a) Calculate the energy transferred to the water in each trial.

b) Plot a graph of mass of ethanol burned (g) vs energy transferred (kJ).
c) What does the linearity of the graph suggest about the efficiency of ethanol combustion?
d) Identify any sources of systematic error in this experimental setup.
Question 11

You’re a required to compare Bond Enthalpy of ethanol theoretically and experimentally using the
following data
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Bond Type Average Bond Enthalpy (kJ/mol)

C–H +412

C–C +348

C–O +360

O–H +463

O=O +498

C=O (in CO₂) +805

Task:

a) Use the bond enthalpy data to estimate the theoretical enthalpy of combustion of ethanol.
b) Compare this value with experimental or literature values.
c) Discuss why there may be differences between calculated and actual ΔH_c.

Scenario 1:
A chemistry student, Amina, is investigating the enthalpy of neutralization between hydrochloric acid
and sodium hydroxide. She mixes 50.0 cm³ of 1.0 mol/dm³ HCl with 50.0 cm³ of 1.0 mol/dm³ NaOH
in a polystyrene cup. She measures the temperature of each solution before mixing and records the
highest temperature reached after neutralization.
Initial temperature of both solutions: 22.0 °C
Final temperature after mixing: 28.4 °C
Specific heat capacity of the solution: 4.18 J/g°C
Assume total mass of solution = 100 g

Tasks:

1. Calculate the heat released during the reaction.

(Use q = mcΔT)
2. Calculate the number of moles of water formed in the reaction.
3. Determine the enthalpy of neutralization (ΔH_neut) in kJ/mol.
4. Explain why a polystyrene cup is used instead of a glass beaker.

5. Amina repeats the experiment using ethanoic acid instead of HCl, and observes a lower
temperature rise.
a) Suggest why the temperature change is lower.
b) What does this indicate about the strength of ethanoic acid compared to HCl?

6. Plot a graph of temperature change vs volume of base added if Amina performs a series of
titrations with increasing volumes of NaOH (while keeping acid constant).

a) Sketch the expected shape.

b) Explain how the graph can be used to determine the point of neutralization.