Amanda Nadine V.

Lazo 10H
Experiment 6: Heat formation of NaCl October 26, 2018

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to be able to calculate the heat of formation
of NaCl by measuring the enthalpy of neutralization and dissolution reactions. A
calorimeter was used as a sample holder to isolate the heat of the reactions. The
experiment was split into two parts; part A was the neutralization of NaOH and HCl,
where it was found that the enthalpy of the reaction was -56.4343 kJ/mol. Part B was
the dissolution of NaCl where it was found that the enthalpy of the reaction was 1.29
kJ/mol. Applying Hess’s Law, the heat of formation of NaCl was calculated by summing
up all the heat of the reactions derived from the thermochemical equations of each step
in forming NaCl and water. It was then calculated that the heat of formation of NaCl was
-411.0173kJ/mol which had a 0.03% error from the theoretical value of -411.153kJ/mol.
These errors could be due to misreading the thermometer or left over excess solutions
in the sample holder.

Introduction

Thermochemistry is used to study the heat that is involved in both physical and
chemical changes (1). First, It is important to understand that the difference between the
system and the surroundings. System refers to the part of the universe that is being
studied, while surroundings refers to everything else or the rest of the universe. When a
chemical reaction happens, the energy that is released or used by that reaction is
transformed to heat or work. This change in heat from the reaction is known as the
enthalpy of the reaction and it can be either exothermic or endothermic. If the reaction is
exothermic, then the system gives off heat to the surroundings. If it is endothermic, then
the system absorbs heat from the surroundings which then lowers the temperature of
the surrounding(1).
 The heat of the reaction can be measured by using a calorimeter. A calorimeter
is a way of isolating a chemical reaction so that the heat that is generated can remain in
the container and therefore be measured. The calorimeter is made up of a styrofoam
coffee-cup with a lid, and a thermometer to measure the temperature of the reaction
inside. In this experiment, the coffee-cup calorimeter was used to trap the heat of the
chemical reactions. The energy released by the system is absorbed by the surroundings
(in this case, the contents of the calorimeter) and this can be calculated by following the
First Law of Thermodynamics which is the law of conservation of energy. The heat can
then be calculated using the following equation.

Equation 1

q = − q = − mcΔT = mc(T f − T i)

Where:
q = heat
m = mass of the solution
c = specific heat capacity
ΔT = change in temperature

The objective of this experiment was to be able to calculate for the heat of
formation of NaCl by measuring the enthalpy of the neutralization of a strong acid and
base. Hess’s Law, along with other thermochemical equations will then be used to
calculate the obtained values for the heat formation of NaCl, which can be written as:

Na + ½ Cl₂ → NaCl ΔHf 0 = ?

As Hess’s Law states that the total enthalpy change of a reaction is the sum of all the
reactions that take place, the following thermochemical equations can be used to
calculate for the unknown reaction above.
Table 1. Thermochemical Equations

Reaction Thermochemical Equation ΔH 0 (kJ/mol)

1 Na(s) + ½ O₂(g) + H₂(g) → NaOH(s) -426.73

2 NaOH(s) → NaOH(aq) -44.505

3 ½ H₂(g)+ ½ Cl₂(g) → HCl(g) -92.30

4 HCl(g) → HCl(aq) -74.843

5 NaOH(aq) +HCl(aq) → NaCl + H₂O ?

6 NaCl(aq) → NaCl(s) ?

7 H₂O(l) → H₂O(g) +40.668

8 H₂O (g)→ ½ O₂(g) + H₂(g) +241.84

​ Method
For part A, the enthalpy of neutralization was measured. First, a styrofoam cup
with a lid was placed into a 250mL beaker and the mass was weighed. This served as
the calorimeter for the experiment. Next, 75 mL of 1M hydrochloric acid (HCl) was
added to the calorimeter and the temperature was measured using a thermometer and
recorded. Then, in a separate styrofoam cup with a lid, 75 mL of 1M of sodium
hydroxide (NaOH) was added and the temperature was recorded as well. The
temperature of the two solutions was compared and their average was the initial
temperature to be used for later calculations. The NaOH was then added to the HCl
solution and carefully stirred for 30 seconds. The final temperature of the mixed
solutions as well as the final mass was then measured and recorded as well. This was
done over 3 trials.
For part B, the enthalpy of dissolution of sodium chloride (NaCl) was measured.
The same calorimeter from part A was used as the sample holder for part B. 150 mL of
distilled water was added and the temperature and mass were both recorded. Next,
4.38g of solid NaCl, also known as table salt, was added and dissolved in the water.
The temperature was then measured to the lowest temperature obtained. This was
done over 2 trials.
The data obtained from part A and part B was then used for the calculation of the
enthalpy of both the neutralization of NaOH and HCl, and the dissolution of solid NaCl.
The values obtained were then used to calculate for the heat of formation of NaCl

Results

Part A

Table 2. Raw data of Neutralization of NaOH and HCl

Data Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass of Empty 111.22g 111.42g 111.43g

Calorimeter +
Beaker

Temperature of 30℃ 30℃ 30℃

1M HCl

Volume of HCl 75mL 75mL 75mL

Temperature of 31℃ 31℃ 31℃

1M NaOH

Volume of NaOH 75mL 75mL 75mL

Final Mass of 262.75g 269.24g 269.42g

Mixed Solution
Final Temperature 37℃ 37℃ 37℃
of Mixed Solution

Table 3. Calculated Data Derived from Neutralization

Data Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Average initial
Temperature 30.5℃

Moles of NaOH 0.075 0.075 0.075

Moles of HCl 0.075 0.075 0.075

Heat of Energy 4.11707 kJ 4.28797 kJ 4.29259 kJ

Average
4.23254 kJ

Average Enthalpy
of Neutralization -56.4343 kJ/mol

Table 4. Raw Data for Dissolution

Data Trial 1 Trial 2

Mass of Empty 111.71g 111.73g

Calorimeter + Beaker

Volume of H₂O 150mL 150mL

Mass of Calorimeter with 258.37g 266.96g

H₂O

Initial Temperature of 29℃ 29℃

H₂O

Mass of Solid NaCl 4.38g 4.38g

Final Mass of NaCl + H₂O 262.75g 271.34

Average Final 28.85℃

Temperature of Mixed
Solution

Table 5. Calculated Data Derived from Dissolution

Data Trial 1 Trial 2

Heat Energy -0.12629 kJ -0.06672 kJ

Average -0.097 kJ

Enthalpy of Dissolution 1.29 kJ/mol

Heat Formation of NaCl -411.0173

Discussion
In part A, the heat of the reaction for the ones missing in the series of
thermochemical equations seen in Table 1 was solved for using the following equation.
Equation 2
ΔHrxn = q /n = − Q/n = − mcΔT /n
Where:
q = heat
n = number of moles
The values obtained were averaged. For part A, the results showed that the heat
of the reaction of NaOH + HCl to form NaCl and water was -56.4343 kJ/mol as seen in
Table 3, and for part B, the heat of the reaction of NaCl was 1.29 kJ/mol as seen in
Table 5. ​For part A, the enthalpy obtained for the neutralization reaction of NaOH which
was a base and HCl, an acid, was a large and negative number of -56.4343 kJ/mol.
This indicated the the reaction was an​ exothermic r​ eaction which means that the system
released heat into the surroundings. This explains the raise in temperature as seen in
Table 2, wherein the final temperature obtained after mixing the two solutions was 37℃
as compared to the initial temperature of 30.5℃. The value obtained for the dissolution
of NaCl on the other hand was a smaller and positive number of 1.29 kJ/mol. This
indicated that the reaction was an​ endothermic​ one which meant that it absorbed heat
from the surroundings which lowered the temperature of the surroundings. Table 4
shows a small change in temperature from the initial 29℃ to and average of 28.85℃
(Q1)(3). Because enthalpy is an extensive property, which therefore means that if the
concentration of NaOH or HCl were higher, then the enthalpy of the reaction would
increase as well. The same can be said for if solid NaCl was used, because the heat
from dissolving NaCl would add to the final enthalpy of the reaction(Q5)(3).
The theoretical value for the heat of formation of NaCl is -411.153 (2), however
the value obtained from this experiment was -411.0173, which meant that there was a
0.03% error. ​This error could be due to a number of things such as not being able to
transfer all the contents from one container to another, error in reading the volume of
each solution added or the temperature obtained. As well as possible contamination
from excess water that was not properly dried off from the containers in between trials
(Q2). ​ As seen in Table 2 and Table 4, the weighted mass of the empty calorimeter
increases for each trial. This could be due to the excess water left or excess solution
that was not fully washed off. Another possible source of error could have been that the
lid of the calorimeter was moved or removed before the final temperature was recorded.
It is important to keep the lid on the calorimeter as to be able to fully trap the heat that is
coming from the reaction. The calorimeter is designed to isolate this reaction by making
sure no energy or matter escapes and can therefore be measured. Removing the lid will
allow a gap where air can enter or heat can escape (Q3).
A state function is a quantitative description of the equilibrium state of a
reaction, or specifically, a thermodynamic reaction. ​Enthalpy one of these state
functions, and because of this, its property does not depend on each step taken to
arrive at the final product, it simply depends on the initial and final values. In this
experiment, the initial and final temperature of the reactions were recorded. This was
then used for the calculation of the heat formation of NaCl by applying Hess’s Law.
Hess’s Law works because it is a sum of all the heat of the reactions that take place to
transform the reactants to the products(Q4)(4).​ In the case of this experiment, no matter
what path is taken to form NaCl, the heat of formation will always be the same give or
take a few differences due to error.

Sample calculations
Heat of the reaction
q = − q = − mcΔT = mc(T f − T i)
Heat of Formation

Reaction Thermochemical Equation H0(kJ/mol)

1 Na(s) + ½ O₂(g) + H₂(g) → NaOH(s) -426.73

2 NaOH(s) → NaOH(aq) -44.505

3 ½ H₂(g)+ ½ Cl₂(g) → HCl(g) -92.30

4 HCl(g) → HCl(aq) -74.843

5 NaOH(aq) +HCl(aq) → NaCl + H₂O -56.4343

 6 NaCl(aq) → NaCl(s) + 1.29

7 H₂O(l) → H₂O(g) +40.668

8 H₂O (g)→ ½ O₂(g) + H₂(g) +241.84

Product Na(s) + ½ Cl₂ (g) → NaCl (s) -411.0173

Conclusion
The objective of this experiment was met. The formation of NaCl was calculated
by using the values obtained to complete the series of thermochemical equations and
the application of Hess’s Law. It was found that the enthalpy of neutralization of NaOH
and HCl was -56.4343 kJ/mol, while the enthalpy of dissolution of NaCl was 1.29
kJ/mol. These values were then used to calculate for the heat of formation of NaCl
which was found to be -411.0173 kJ/mol, which had a 0.03% error from the theoretical
value of -411.153kJ/mol. This value indicates that the heat of formation of NaCl is not
very high and thus it is a compound that is easily formed, hence, the abundance of table
salt.
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