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PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENTS

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 1

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Experiment No. 1

Chemical Kinetics – Study of rate of reaction and concentration of the reactants

Aim
To study of effect of concentration on the rate of reaction between sodium
thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid.
Principle
The reaction between sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) to
produce a colloidal solution of sulphur. The solution obtained is translucent.
The reaction occurs as follows:
Na2S2O3(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + SO2(g) + S(s)

As the concentration of the reacting species increases the rate of precipitation of

sulphur also increases. As the concentration increases, molecular collisions per unit time of
the reacting species increase which can result in increased chances of product formation. This
results in an increase in the rate of precipitation of sulphur.

Materials required:
The apparatus and materials required for this experiment are as follows:
1. Flasks 5
2. Burette of volume 50 mL
3. Pipette
4. Stopwatch
5. 0.1 M sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) solution
6. 1M Hydrochloric acid

Procedure:
Take five conical flasks, rinse them with water, and label them as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. In flask
1, add 10 mL of 0.1 M sodium thiosulphate solution and 40 mL of distilled water. In flask 2,
add 20 mL of 0.1 M sodium thiosulphate solution and 30 mL of distilled water. In flask 3, add
30 mL of 0.1 M sodium thiosulphate solution and 20 mL of distilled water. In flask 4, add 40
mL of 0.1 M sodium thiosulphate solution and 10 mL of distilled water. In flask 5, add 50 mL
of 0.1 M sodium thiosulphate solution only. Distilled water is added to adjust the volume of
solution in each flask to 50 mL. Add 10 mL 1M HCl in flask 1 with the help of a burette. Start
the stopwatch immediately. Shake the contents of the conical flask and place it on a white
paper or tile with a cross mark on it. Observe the flask and pause the stop-watch as soon as
the cross mark just becomes invisible. Record the time taken for the process. Repeat the
experiment by adding 10 mL HCl in flask 2, 3, 4, 5 and record the time for each. Then plot a
1
graph between 𝑡 (along Y-axis) against concentration of Na2S2O3 solution (along X-axis).
Result
When the concentration of the reactants increases, the rate of the reaction also increases.

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 2

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Observations
Flask Volume of Volume of Total volume Conc. of Time taken for tick 1
(s-1)
No. Na2S2O3 water in mL of solution in Na2S2O3 mark to become 𝑡

solution in mL mL solution just invisible

(seconds)
1 10 40 50 0.02M 90 0.011
2 20 30 50 0.04M 72 0.014
3 30 20 50 0.06M 59 0.017
4 40 10 50 0.08M 40 0.025
5 50 0 50 0.1M 28 0.036

𝟏
Graph between 𝒕 and concentration

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 3

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Experiment No. 2
Electrochemistry – Varaition of cell potential with concentration
Aim
To study the variation of cell potential in Zn|Zn2+||Cu2+|Cu with change in concentration of
electrolytes (CuSO4 or ZnSO4) at room temperature.
Principle
The reaction between copper sulphate solution and zinc metal forms the basis of Daniel cell.
Here current flows from copper electrode (cathode) to the zinc electrode (anode). Under
standard condition, it generates an emf of 1.1 V.
The net reaction taking place in Daniel cell is: Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)
Cell potential is the difference in electrode potential between cathode and anode. It is given
by the equation:
Ecell = Ecathode – Eanode
Ecell increases if Ecathode increases and Eanode decreases.
Ecell at any electrolytic concentration can be determined by the equation:
0 0.0591 [Zn2+ ]
Ecell = Ecell – log at 298K.
2 [Cu2+ ]
Materials Required:
1. 1M zinc sulphate solution
2. 1M copper sulphate solution
3. Zinc rod
4. Copper rod
5. Beakers
6. Voltmeter
7. Salt bridge
8. Connecting wires
Procedure:
Prepare 1M of zinc sulphate solution and 1M of copper sulphate solution in separate
beakers. Connect a salt bridge in such a manner that its one end dips in zinc sulphate and
the other end dips in copper sulphate solution. Now connect the zinc plate to negative
terminal of voltmeter and copper plate to positive terminal of voltmeter. Note down the
reading of voltmeter in observation table.
Prepare different concentrations of zinc sulphate and copper sulphate solutions and
repeat the above procedure and record the volt meter reading in each case. Calculate 𝑬𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍
in each case and write down in the observation table.
Results
The emf of Daniel cell increases with decrease in molar concentration of zinc
sulphate solution and increase in molar concentration of copper sulphate solution.

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 4

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Observations
Concentration of Concentration of Emf of the cell
ZnSO4 solution CuSO4 solution (in volts)
1M 1M 1.1 V
1M 0.5 M 1.0 V
1M 0.25 M 0.9 V
0.5 M 1M 1.2 V
0.25 M 1M 1.3 V

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 5

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Experiment No. 3

Thermochemistry – Enthalpy of Neutralisation of a Strong acid with a Strong base

Aim
Determination of enthalpy of neutralisation of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide
solution.
Principle
Heat is evolved during neutralisation of an acid with an alkali.
NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O
Known volumes of the standard solutions of an acid and alkali are mixed and the
change in temperature is observed. From this, the enthalpy of neutralisation is calculated.
Enthalpy of neutralisation is the heat evolved when one gram equivalent of the acid is
completely neutralised by a base in dilute solution.
Requirements
(i) A wide-mouthed polythene bottle (to serve as calorimeter)
(ii) a rubber (cork having two holes
(iii) thermometer (1/10th degree)
(iv) stirrer fitted with a cork on the handle
(v) a 100 ml measuring cylinder.
(vi) 1.0 M hydrochloric acid and
(vii) 1.0 M sodium hydroxide solution.
Procedure
A. Determination of Calorimeter Constant
Put 100 ml of distilled water in polythene bottle with a thermometer and stirrer. Note
the temperature (t1°C). Heat some water in a beaker to a temperature 20-30°C higher than
that of room temperature. Put 100 ml of this warm water in another beaker. Note the
temperature of this water. Let it be t2°C. Add warm water from the beaker into the polythene
bottle without any loss of time. Stir the contents. Read the temperature attained after mixing.
Let it be t3°C.
B. Determination of Enthalpy of Neutralisation
Clean and dry the polythene bottle. Place 100 mL of 1.0 M hydrochloric acid solution
in it. Record the temperature of the acid solution. Similarly, note the initial temperature of
the sodium hydroxide solution taken in a separate vessel. Both the solutions should have the
same temperature, otherwise wait for some time so that they attain the same temperature.
Transfer 100 mL of sodium hydroxide solution into the acid solution quickly. Immediately fit
the cork having the thermometer and the stirrer in the mouth of the polythene bottle and stir
well. Note the temperature after small intervals till it becomes constant. Record the highest
temperature (to 0.1°) reached.

Result
The enthalpy of neutralisation of HCl with NaOH is ….……… kJ

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 6

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Observations and Calculations

A. Determination of Calorimeter Constant
Volume of water taken in the bottle = 100 mL
Temperature of water = t1°C
Volume of warm water added = 100 mL
Temperature of warm water = t2°C
Temperature after mixing = t3°C
Heat given out by hot water = Heat taken by bottle and cold water
– 100 x 4.184 x (t3 – t2) = C x (t3- t1) + 100 x 4.184 x (t2 – t1)
100 x 4.184 x (t2 − t3 ) −100 x 4.184 x (t3 − t1 )
So, the heat capacity C =
(t2 − t1 )
100 x (t2 − t3 )
Or, C = 4.184 [ − 100] J/0C
(t2 − t1 )
B. Determination of Enthalpy of Neutralisation
Initial temperature of the acid and base = t4°C
Final temperature after neutralisation = t5°C
Change in temperature, ∆t = (t5 – t4)°C.
Mass of the mixture solution after neutralisation = 200 g
Calorimeter constant of calorimeter = C J/°C
Heat produced during neutralisation of 100 mL of 1 M HCl
= C x (t5 – t4) + 200 x 4.184 (t5 – t4)
= (t5 – t4)(C + 200 x 4.184)
So, heat produced during neutralisation of 1000 mL of 1 M HCl
= (t5 – t4)(C + 200 x 4.184) x 10 J
(t5 − t4 )(C+200 x 4.184)
Enthalpy of neutralisation = kJ
100

PREPARED BY ANIL KUMAR K L, PHSS VANDIPERIYAR, IDUKKI 7