Calorimetry:

Determination of Heats of Solution

CHEM 1001/1005 (pages: 47-57)

2012

Goals
Measure the heat capacity (Ccal) of a constantpressure calorimeter
Determine the heat of solution (Hsoln) of

(anhydrous) Sodium acetate (Na2C2H3O2)

Sodium acetate trihydrate (Na2C2H3O23H2O)

Theory: First Law of Thermodynamics

Heat (q) of the universe is ZERO
quniverse = 0
qwarm + qcool + qcalorimeter = 0
qreaction + qsolution + qcalorimeter = 0
So,
and

qcalorimeter = - (qwarm + qcool )

qreaction = - ( qsolution + qcalorimeter ) = Hreaction
because P = 0

Theory: Heat Capacity vs. Specific heat

Heat capacity (C)
qcalorimeter = - (qwarm + qcool ) = Ccalorimeter T

Specific heat ()
q = m water T
= m 4.184 J/(g* C) T
(q: qwarm, qcool, qsolution)
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Apparatus
Note: When shaking the calorimeter,
DO NOT allow the GoLink device
to move around. It may get damaged!

Hold the calorimeter

by the tubing when
stoppering/removing
temperature probe.

Procedure: I. Calibrate the calorimeter (3 trials)

Set up the calorimeter (get warm water heating to save time!)
Collect water (15.0 mL) to calorimeter, record T1i
Warm up water to 80oC, collect 20.0 mL into a
Logger Pro Measurements
styrofoam cup, to record T2i
Collect (at the start of trial)
Shake 60s
Pour them to calorimeter, record Tf
Wait 100s
Record temperature

Note: Equations on P.52 for calculation of CCalorimeter

Volume (mL) Mass (g) T (C)
Cool (room temperature water) 15.0

15.0

T1i

Logger Pro

Warm (heated water)

20.0

T2i

Regular thermometer

Tf

Logger Pro

Calorimeter (mixed water)

20.0

Procedure: II. Measure heat of solution

Dry calorimeter and thermometer
Collect water (35.0 mL), add to calorimeter, record Ti
Weigh (use weighing bottle) NaC2H3O2 (1.5000 g). Do
this quickly!!

Transfer NaC2H3O2 to calorimeter, record Tf

Repeat with 2.0000 g, 2.5000 g, 3.0000 g of NaC2H3O2
Repeat for NaC2H3O23H2O
(have one table for each salt)

Trial Mass
(g)
1

1.5000

2.0000

2.5000

3.0000

Ti (C) Tf (C)

Pop Question: Whats wrong with this picture?

Things to Remember
NaC2H3O2 is hygroscopic, weigh & transfer it fast
Record exact mass (analytical balance) and volume (graduated
cylinder)
Volume must be exactly what is prescribed
Dry calorimeter & thermometer before each run
Distilled water should be room temperature. Can use bottle.
Uncertainty of top-loading balance ( 0.0001 g), 50mlgraduated cylinder ( 0.1 mL), thermometer ( 0.2oC)
Molar heat of solution of sodium acetate (-17.3 KJ/mol) and
sodium acetate trihydrate (19.7 KJ/mol) at 25oC
Clean up and inventory your station before youre signed out.
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After-lab Write-up DUE: Next lab Period

Calculation
1.
2.
3.

Heat capacity of your calorimeter

Molar heat of solution of sodium acetate and sodium acetate trihydrate for each
experiment you carried out. Tabulate the values. (Eight values in total)
Average value for each molar heat of solution, and compare them with the accepted
values. Calculate the relative spread and relative error

Discussion
- Around one paragraph, discussion high/low results and questions 4 and 5 on lab manual
See P.57

Conclusion
- One or two sentences, summary of all results

Quality of discussion and conclusion (what we look for in these sections)

1.
2.

In discussion list two reasons why results are high/low and answers of questions
4&5
In conclusion report the heat capacity of your calorimeter, average H values,
relative errors, relative spreads
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2. Molar Heat of solution, Hm

Hm= - [ qsolution + qcalorimeter ]/moles of Na2C2H3O2

= - [ (msolution*solution* Tsolution) + (Ccal * Tcal) ]
moles Na2C2H3O2
Note: msolution = msalt + mwater
solution = 4.184 J/(g*C)
T = Tfinal - Tinitial
3-iii. Relative Error: | Accepted value - Experimental value | X 100%
(a.k.a. % Error)
Accepted value
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