Determining Enthalpy Change of a Reaction Using Hess’ Law, Coffee-Cup Calorimetry and Limiting

Moles

Allainaa Gilani, Sreeja Sen, Mafha Abidi

SCH4U0-E

Josh Martin

Monday, April 1, 2024

 Enthalpy (H) represents the total energy, including kinetic and
potential energy. However, when analyzing processes, the emphasis is on the
enthalpy change (∆H), which arises from the disparity in enthalpy between
reactants and products. ∆H can be interpreted as the amount of heat energy
(Q) transferred per mole (n) throughout a reaction. Enthalpy changes occur
in physical, chemical, and nuclear processes. Physical energy is used to
either overcome or facilitate interactions among intermolecular forces,
thereby preserving the basic particles in their original state. Because
energy is used to either break or create intermolecular forces, the
temperature of the particles stays the same until there's a phase change.
Nuclear changes in energy are used to overcome the forces holding the
protons and neutrons in the nuclei. The enormous amount of energy in
nuclear reactions happens because a small amount of mass gets converted
into energy. Two common nuclear reactions release energy: nuclear fission,
where a bigger nucleus breaks into smaller ones, and nuclear fusion, where
two smaller nuclei merge to form a bigger one. Lastly, chemical energy is
used to break electronic structures and chemical bonds within atoms/ions,
forming new substances. Enthalpy change, ΔH, measures the energy change in
a system from start to finish, whether it's from a chemical reaction or some
other process.
Hess's Law explains this fundamental principle: ΔH stays the same in certain conditions, like

when it's a certain temperature and pressure. The law is an important tool for determining ΔH,

whether through experimental approaches like calorimetry, which quantifies heat exchange, or

theoretically by applying Hess’s Law to a series of predetermined reactions that will sum to give the

target reaction. The following principles must be followed and observed when applying Hess’s Law:

Reversing an equation causes the sign of ΔH to reverse and multiplying an equation by a coefficient

leads to the multiplication of ∆H by that same factor. By manipulating individual reactions

accordingly, their collective sum yields the overall target reaction and its corresponding ∆H value.
Combustion reactions are a type of synthesis reaction. The general equation is C xHy + O2 = CO2 +
H2O + energy, where CxHy is a hydrocarbon. Combustion is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases
heat and adds oxygen. There are two types of combustion; incomplete combustion and complete
combustion. Incomplete combustion occurs when there is an insufficient or limited amount of oxygen,
this reaction would usually have a yellow sooty flame, and the products produced are usually carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide, water, and soot. However, complete combustion occurs when there is more
oxygen supply than needed, this type would usually have a blue flame and the products are carbon
dioxide and water.
Calorimetry is used to measure and determine the amount of energy changes or heat transfer in a
chemical or physical process. (https://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/chemistry/chapter/calorimetry/). A
chemical reaction occurs in a calorimeter, which is an insulated container, in a solution, and the
measurements are based on the solution being used. These measurements made are of mass, specific heat
capacity, and temperature change of the reaction, and the concept that heat lost from the surroundings is
equivalent to heat gained by the system gives the equation (Q1 = -Q2). There is an assumption that no
heat is lost or absorbed from the surroundings outside the calorimeter. There are three general types of
calorimetry; coffee cup calorimetry, Flame calorimetry, and bomb calorimetry. Coffee Cup Calorimetry
uses the general formula Q =mcΔT. This type is useful for low-energy reactions that occur in dilute
aqueous solutions. Additional assumptions are made due to this, these assumptions are: The specific heat
capacity of the calorimeter is negligible, and the density (for neutralization reactions) and the specific
heat capacity of the solution is the same as water. Flame calorimetry uses the general equation Q =
mwcwΔT + mcalccalΔT. This calorimetry is used when a flame is directly heating a calorimeter from the
outside. This requires both the heat of the calorimeter and the heat of the water mixture to be known for
the calculations. Lastly, bomb calorimetry is the most accurate method to measure the enthalpy of a
process. The general formula for bomb calorimetry is Q = CΔT. It requires a self-contained chamber
where this process must occur and it must be taken into consideration. Generally, the overall sum of these
components is given as the heat capacity of the calorimeter or C (C = c water + c thermometer + c stirrer
+ c container, etc). Calorimetry is an effective method to calculate the specific heat capacity of a solution.

The purpose of the lab is to determine the enthalpy change of the reaction: “(1) Mg(s) + ½ O2(g)

→ MgO(s).”. However, because this reaction is too dangerous to conduct using a simple calorimeter,

we will be determining the enthalpy change of 1) “MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(ℓ)” and

2) “Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)”. To do so, we will first find the initial and final

temperatures, then the amount of heat gained/lost, and finally the enthalpy change itself by dividing

its negative equivalent by the limiting moles. Afterward, we will use these chemical equations and

enthalpy change values, including the given 3) “H2(g) + ½ O2(g) → H2O(ℓ) + 285.8 kJ” and our

knowledge of Hess’ Law to determine the enthalpy change of the original, highlighted chemical

equation.
RESULTS:

The enthalpy change reaction of “MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(ℓ)” is -126.84 KJ/mol.

The enthalpy change reaction of “Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)” is -345.92 KJ/mol.

Therefore, it can be concluded that the enthalpy change reaction of “(1) Mg(s) + ½ O2(g) →

MgO(s)” is 66.72 KJ/mol.

Reaction 1: Reaction 2:
MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(ℓ) Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

The temperature rose by 6 degrees Celsius. Greater temperature increase

→ Initial temperature: 21, Final temperature: 27 → initial temperature: 24, final temperature: 41
Sizzling sounds were heard Immediate bubbling, foggy, sizzling
The color change occurred but could not be The color change occurred but could not be
greatly observed because the materials used greatly observed because the materials used
(calorimeter) were not transparent (calorimeter) were not transparent
Mass of water = 100g Mass of water = 100g
Mass of MgO = 0.8g Mass of Mg = 0.5g

Figure 1: Table with two columns, each detailing any observed changes made during the individual
reactions, as well as the initial mass and temperature of each reactant.
Figure 2: Picture detailing the calculations used to determine the enthalpy change of reaction one and
reaction two, with an explanation of which steps were used to find each enthalpy change.

Figure 3: Picture depicting the use of Hess’ Law to determine the enthalpy change of the original
reaction, including a short explanation of the steps used to reach that conclusion.
 Works Cited

Dillon, Stephanie R. “The Chemistry of Combustion.” Fsu.edu, 2021,

www.chem.fsu.edu/chemlab/chm1020c/Lecture%207/01.php#:~:text=Combustion%20is

%20a%20high%2Dtemperature.

OpenStaxCollege. “Calorimetry.” Pressbooks-Dev.oer.hawaii.edu, 2 Oct. 2014,

pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/chemistry/chapter/calorimetry/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2024.

ScienceDirect. “Complete Combustion - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.”

Sciencedirect.com, 2012, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/complete-

combustion. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

“Video Details - ClickView Library of Educaitonal Videos.” ClickView UK,

www.clickview.co.uk/curriculum-libraries/video-details/?

id=23852726&cat=11678961&library=secondary#:~:text=Complete%20combustion

%20takes%20place%20in. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.