1 This question looks at neutralisation reactions.

A student carries out an experiment to determine the enthalpy change for a neutralisation reaction.

The student measures out 35.0 cm3 of 2.40 mol dm−3 KOH and 35.0 cm3 of 1.20 mol dm−3 H2SO4.
The temperature of each solution is 19.5 °C.

The student mixes the solutions. The KOH is all neutralised and the maximum temperature reached is
36.0 °C.

(i) Write the overall equation for the reaction that takes place.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the enthalpy change for the reaction between 1 mol KOH and 1 mol HCl.

Assume that the density of the mixture is 1.00 g cm−3 and that the specific heat capacity for the
solution is the same as for water.

ΔH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ kJ [3]

(iii) Explain, why the answer to (ii) is the enthalpy change of neutralisation.

[1]

(iv) In this experiment, the student uses a thermometer with an uncertainty of ±0.5 °C in each reading.

Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the temperature rise.

percentage uncertainty = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ % [1]

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 2 This question is about reactions of sulfur compounds.

A student neutralises aqueous sulfuric acid, H2SO4(aq), with aqueous sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq), to
determine the enthalpy change of neutralisation, ΔneutH.

(i) Define the term enthalpy change of neutralisation and write the ionic equation for the this change.
Include state symbols.

[2]

(ii) Write a full equation for the complete neutralisation of H2SO4 with NaOH(aq).
State symbols are not required.

[1]

(iii) In their experiment, the student follows the method below.

Add 50.0 cm3 of 1.50 mol dm−3 NaOH(aq) to a polystyrene cup.

Measure out 25.0 cm3 of 1.50 mol dm−3 H2SO4(aq).
Measure the initial temperature of both solutions.
Add the H2SO4(aq) to the NaOH(aq) in the polystyrene cup, stir the mixture, and record the
maximum temperature reached.

Results
Initial temperature of both solutions 22.0 °C
Maximum temperature of mixture 35.5 °C

Calculate ΔneutH, in kJ mol−1.

Assume that the density and specific heat capacity of all solutions are the same as for water.

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 ΔneutH = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ kJ mol−1 [3]

3 50.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm−3 NaOH is neutralised by 50.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm−3 HNO3.
The temperature increases by 6.0 °C.

The experiment is repeated using:

25.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm−3 NaOH and 25.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm−3 HNO3.

What is the increase in temperature in the second experiment?

A 1.5°C
B 3.0°C
C 6.0°C
D 12.0°C

Your answer [1]

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 4 A student carries out two experiments in the laboratory based on succinic acid (butanedioic acid),
(CH2COOH)2.

Aqueous succinic acid can be neutralised by aqueous sodium hydroxide, NaOH(aq):

(CH2COOH)2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → (CH2COONa)2(aq) + 2H2O(l)

This reaction can be used to determine a value for the enthalpy change of neutralisation, ΔneutH.

The student follows this method:

• Add 50.0 cm3 of 0.400 mol dm−3 succinic acid to a polystyrene cup.
• Measure out 50.0 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm−3 NaOH(aq), which is in excess.
• Measure the temperature of both solutions.
• Add the NaOH(aq) to the aqueous succinic acid in the polystyrene cup, stir the mixture, and
record the maximum temperature.

Temperature readings

Maximum temperature of mixture/°C 26.5

Initial temperature of both solutions/°C 21.5

Calculate a value for the enthalpy change of neutralisation, ΔneutH, in kJ mol−1.

Assume that the density of all solutions and the specific heat capacity, c, of the reaction mixture are
the same as for water.

ΔneutH = kJ mol−1 [4]

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 5 The equation for the reaction of sulfuric acid with potassium hydroxide is shown below.

H2SO4(aq) + 2KOH(aq) → K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

25 cm3 of 1.00 mol dm–3 H2SO4 is reacted with excess KOH.

The energy given out is 2.8 kJ.

What is the enthalpy change of neutralisation, in kJ mol–1?

A –56
B –70
C –112
D –224

Your answer [1]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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 Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

1 i H2SO4 + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2H2O 1 allow multiples

(1)

ii Energy (into water) mark 3 allow rounding to 4828 OR 4830

70.0 × 4.18 × 16.5 = 4827.9 (J) or
4.8279 (kJ) (1) allow amount of substance mark to be
based upon either HCl or NaOH
amount of substance mark

allow ecf for

ΔneutH mark
(–)4.8279 / 0.084(0) =
(–)57.475 OR (–)57.48 OR (–)57.5 (1)

Correctly rounded to at least 3

significant figures

iii 1 mole of water had been formed (1) 1

iv 1
(1)

Total 6

2 i (enthalpy change for) the formation of 2 ALLOW (enthalpy change for) the
1 mole H2O from reaction of an acid/H+ reaction of 1 mol H+ with 1 mol of OH–
with an alkali/base/OH– ✓ ALLOW formation of 1 mol of water
from neutralisation If no definition in
words, award 1st mark if 1 mol is
written under species in the equation,
in line with marking criteria

DO NOT ALLOW formation of 1 mol

H2O from 1 mole of acid and/or 1 mol
of alkali

DO NOT ALLOW formation of 1 mol

H2O from an acid and its conjugate
base
H+(aq) + OH–(aq) → H2O(l) ✓

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 Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

ii 2NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O ✓ 1 IGNORE state symbols (even if wrong)

not required

iii FIRST, CHECK THE ANSWER ON 3 FULL ANNOTATIONS MUST BE

ANSWER LINE USED
IF answer = –56.43 OR –56.4 (kJ ____________________________
mol–1) award 3 marks IF there is an alternative answer, check
____________________________ to see if there is any ECF credit
possible using working below
Energy change
energy change = 75.0 × 4.18 × 13.5 ____________________________
= 4232.25 (J) OR 4.23225 (kJ) ✓ IGNORE any sign shown
ALLOW 4230 (J) AND 4.23 (kJ) up to
calculator value correctly rounded

Moles

n(NaOH) =
0.075(0)(mol)

OR n(H2SO4) =
0.0375(0) (mol)

OR n(H2O) formed =0.075(0) (mol) ✓

ALLOW ECF from

ΔneutH = = –56.43 OR –56.4

(kJ mol–1 ) ✓ – sign required

ALLOW 3 significant figures up to
calculator value correctly rounded

Total 6

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 Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

3 C 1
Examiner’s Comments
Very few candidates obtained the
correct temperature change and this
proved to be the most difficult of the
multiple choice questions. The majority
of candidates incorrectly answered as
B, based on halving the quantities,
leading to halving the temperature
change.

Total 1

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 Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

4 TAKE CARE: Correct final answer of 4

–52.3 OR –52.25 can be obtained from
two cancelling errors:
• Use of 50 for energy released
(no ×2 of 50 for two solutions mixed)
• No ÷ 2 in final step

–52.3 OR –52.25 would then be

awarded 2 marks out of 4
__________________________________ ALLOW ECF throughout
__ Correctly calculates n(succinic acid)

DO NOT ALLOW less than 3 SF

IGNORE units
Energy released in J OR kJ __________________________________
= 100.00 × 4.18 × 5.0 = 2090 _
(J) ALTERNATIVE METHOD
OR 2.090 (kJ) ✓ n(succinic acid) = 0.02(00) (mol) ✓

Energy released = 2090 (J) OR 2.090

Energy released, in kJ or J, for (kJ) ✓
formation of 2 mol H2O
n(H2O) formed = 2 × 0.02(00) =
0.04(00) (mol) ✓
OR

Examiner’s Comments
ΔneutH to 3 or more SF AND correct –
sign The direct determination of an enthalpy
change is a common practical
procedure.

Most candidates were able to calculate

the energy change in the reaction as
2.09 kJ, with comparatively few not
adding the two 50 cm3 volumes in their
calculation. Common errors were using
the mass or moles of succinic acid in
the mcΔT calculation or to use 278 K,
rather than 5°C for ΔT.

Most candidates calculated that 0.02

mol of succinic acid had reacted.

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 Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

The best responses recognised that

the enthalpy change of neutralisation
(i.e. formation of 1 mol of H2O) was
required and that 0.02 mol succinic
acid produced 2 × 0.02 = 0.04 mol
H2O. 2.09 kJ was then scaled up to
give the correct ΔH value of –52.25 kJ
mol–1. Example 1 follows this approach
and each stage in the working can be
followed easily.

Most candidates scaled up using 0.02

mol to obtain –104.6 kJ mol–1 and then
thought that this was the final answer.

Lower ability candidates often

calculated the moles of succinic acid
as 0.02 but also calculated the moles
of NaOH as 0.05 mol. They often then
went on to scale up their energy
change by 0.05 or 0.07.

Many responses were disorganised

and poorly presented with
unsubstantiated numbers across the
answer space. Imperfect calculations
may be partially credited by applying
error carried forward but this is only
possible if sense can be made of the
response.

Compare the responses in Exemplar

13 and Exemplar 14. In Exemplar 14,
there is no labelling to show what each
stage refers to. It looks as if the
candidate has calculated the moles of
NaOH rather than succinic acid and
has used this in the subsequent stage.
Error carried forward has been applied
generously on this assumption.

Answer = –52.25 kJ mol–1.

Exemplar 13

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 Question Answer/Indicative content Marks Guidance

Exemplar 14

Total 4

5 A 1 ALLOW –56 (correct numerical

answer)

Examiner’s Comments

The correct answer was A. Some

candidates showed full working in the
space provided. B and C were
common errors. Those who selected C
did not take into account the need to
half the reaction’s enthalpy change to
meet the definition requirements of one
mole of water.

Total 1

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