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Abby Weitkamp

Honors/AP Chemistry

Hays

22 November 2016

Designing a Hand Warmer Lab

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this lab is to investigate the energy changes accompanying the formation of

solutions for common laboratory salts, and then apply the results to design a hand warmer that is

reliable, safe, and inexpensive.

Partners

Sana Navaid

Madeline Crowley

Michelle Shumiatsky

Introduction

1. When chromium chloride, CrCl2, is dissolved in water, the temperature of the water

increases. (a) Is the heat of solution exothermic or endothermic? (b) Which is

stronger-the attractive forces between water molecules and chromium and chloride ions,

or the combined ionic bond strength of CrCl2 and

intermolecular forces between water

molecules? Explain.

a. The heat of the solution is endothermic because it is cold to the touch and is

taking in heat.
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b. The bond of the chromium chloride is stronger because it contains intramolecular

forces and the separate ions contain intermolecular forces which are not as strong.

2. A solution was formed by combining 25.0 g of solid A with 60.0 mL of distilled water,

with the water initially at 21.4. The final temperature of the solution was 25.3.

Calculate the heat released as the solid dissolved, qsoln, assuming no heat loss to the

calorimeter (see Equation 1).

3. In Question 2 above, the calorimeter was found to have a heat capacity of 8.20J/. If a

correction is included to account for the heat absorbed by the calorimeter, what is the heat

of solution, qsoln?
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4. The solid in Question 2 was aluminum sulfate. Al2(SO4)3. Calculate the molar heat of

solution, Hsoln, for aluminum sulfate. Hint: The units for molar heat of solution are

kilojoules per mole (KJ/mole). First determine the heat released per gram of solid.
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Materials

Magnesium sulfate, anhydrous, MgSO4, 5g

Distilled water

Lithium chloride, LiCl, 10g

2 nested polystyrene cups

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Equipment

Beaker, 250-mL

Graduated cylinder, 100-mL

Heat-resistant gloves

Hot plate

Magnetic stirrer

Stirring bar

Support stand

Ring clamp

Digital thermometer

Timer

Procedure

Part A. Heat Capacity of the Calorimeter

1. Place the two nested cups in a ring clamp that is attached to the support stand.

2. Place a magnetic stirrer below the calorimeter, then lower the ring clamp so the bottom of

the cup is almost touching the stirrer.

3. Measure 100.0 mL of water in a 100- mL graduated cylinder and move the water to the

calorimeter.

4. Place a stirring bar between the nested cups and set the bar slowly spinning.

5. Measure and record the initial temperature of the water.

6. Heat approximately 125 mL of distilled water to about 70 in a 250- mL beaker.

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7. Measure 100.0 mL of the heated water in a 100- mL graduated cylinder using heat

resistant gloves.

8. Measure and record the temperature of the hot water.

9. Pour the hot water into the water in the calorimeter.

10. Insert the thermometer and stir the water

11. Record the mixing temperature Tmix after 20 seconds.

12. Empty and dry the calorimeter.

13. Calculate the calorimeter constant.

Part B. Calorimetry Procedure

1. Measure 45.0 mL of distilled water in a 100- mL graduated cylinder and transfer it to the

calorimeter

2. Measure and record the initial temperature of the water.

3. Measure 5.00 g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate in a weighing dish.

4. Put a stir bar into the calorimeter and slowly stir the water.

5. Add the anhydrous magnesium sulfate to the calorimeter and insert the thermometer.

6. Record the highest temperature reading.

7. Calculate the molar heat.

Part C. Guided Inquiry Calorimetry Procedure.

1. Measure 40.0 mL of distilled water in a 100- mL graduated cylinder and transfer it to the

calorimeter

2. Measure and record the initial temperature of the water.

3. Measure 10.00 g of lithium chloride in a weighing dish.

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4. Put a stir bar into the calorimeter and slowly stir the water.

5. Add the lithium chloride to the calorimeter and insert the thermometer.

6. Record the highest temperature reading.

7. Calculate the molar heat.

Data and Calculations

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Observations

Part A

When the heated water was added to the initial room temperature water, the Tmix

temperature rose compared to the initial and dropped compared to the heated.

The Tmix was 42.5

Part B

The highest temperature was 53.1

The T was 26.7

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The solute did not completely dissolve

Part C

The highest temperature was 41.9

The T was 19

Conclusion

Lab Questions

1. Review the calorimetry procedure and answer the following questions:

a. What data is needed to calculate the enthalpy change for a reaction?

i. The temperature of the reactants subtracted from that of the products is

needed to calculate the enthalpy change for a reaction.

b. Identify the variables that will influence the experimental data.

i. The variables that will influence the experimental data are:

1. Temperature of water

2. Water mass

3. Temperature of solute

4. Solute mass

c. What variables should be controlled (kept constant) during the procedure?

i. The variables that should be controlled during the procedure are:

1. Initial temperature

2. Mass of water (concentration can be changed)

3. Amount of stirring
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d. The independent variable in an experiment is the variable that is changed by the

experimenter, while the dependent variable responds to or depends on the changes

in the independent variable. Name the independent and dependent variables in a

calorimetry experiment to determine the molar heat of solution.

i. The independent variable is mass of the solute.

ii. The dependent variable is the T because the concentration of the solution

can change and, therefore, cause the temperature to change.

e. Discuss the factors that will affect the precision of the experimental results.

i. The factors that will affect the precision of the experimental results are:

1. Mass of solute- too much or too little will cause different results

2. Initial temperature- if incorrect, entire answer will be wrong

3. Mix temperature- if incorrect, entire answer will be wrong

2. LiCl makes a good hand warmer but is not cost effective. The temperature of the hand

warmer increased by 26.7. However, at a cost of $0.68 per 10g of chemicals, a profit

would not be made if the hand warmer is priced at around $1.00. If the retail price of the

hand warmer increases, not as many people will buy it and the profits will still be lacking.

Syllabus Questions

1. This lab demonstrated that various chemicals can have different energy changes. The

desired purpose was achieved because the energy changes were noted when determining

what would be considered an effective hand warmer.

2. The results show that Na2CO3 is the most cost-effective solute when creating the hand

warmer. However, LiCl had the largest temperature increase.

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3. Some possible sources of error are:

a. Incorrect temperature measurement

b. Incorrect water mass measurement

c. Incorrect solute mass measurement

4. I learned that there are multiple possibilities of chemicals to create an effective hand

warmer. I also learned how to use the stirrer and create a calorimeter.

Honors/AP Chemistry Lab Rubric

Part of the Description Points Points

Lab Earned Possible

Pre-Lab Answered all question in lab document as 60 60

Assignment instructed; questions are answered correctly

Pre-Lab Included in the lab notebook: name, lab title, 10 10

Checklist date, name(s) of lab partner(s), purpose
statement, materials list

Procedure Procedure is listed concisely and clearly. 10 10

Corrections are made to note any changes in
the given procedure.

Data All data is clearly listed or is in table format. 10 10

Data is labeled with appropriate units.

Neatness All information is legible, easy to read, and 10 10

easy to follow

Data Analysis Data analysis includes sample calculations 50 50

when necessary. All work is shown, with
answers clearly marked and in correct units.

Conclusion All conclusion/post lab questions are 50 50

answered in complete sentences.
200/200 = 100 Great Job!