C5- temperature change

• How could you investigate the temperature change when different volumes of NaOH are added to HCl?

  1. Measure 25cm3 of HCl into a polystyrene cup

  2. Measure the starting temperature of HCl

  3. Add 5cm3 of NaOH to the cup

  4. Stir the mixture and measure the maximum temperature reached. Record it in a table

  5. Repeat the experiment with increasing volumes of NaOH: 10cm3, 15cm3, 20cm3...
• Why might calculated energy values be different to a databook?

  energy gets lost to its surroundings
• If a reaction is exothermic

  The thermometer will record an increase in temperature as energy will have been transferred to the surroundings
• How could you reduce the amount of heat energy lost to the surroundings?

  1. Mix the reactants in a polystyrene cup

  2. Place the polystyrene cup in a beaker of cotton wool

  3. Lid on the cup to reduce energy lost by evaporation
• When investigating the temperature change between two chemicals, why should the chemicals both start at the same temperature?

  so their individual temperatures do not have effect on the temperature recorded once combined
• How could you ensure that two reactants in separate test tubes were the same starting temperature?

  1. Place the test tubes in a water bath at 25oC

  2. Use a thermometer to ensure the reactants are the same temperature
• Why is it important to stir the mixture when taking a temperature reading?

  to ensure temperature measured is consistent throughout mixture

  to ensure the reactants have fully reacted
• Initially, a solution is 25oC. Another reactant is added and the temperature decreases. Is this reaction endothermic or exothermic?

  endothermic
• More precise temperature measurement

  Use a digital thermometer
• More reliable temperature measurement


  Repeat the experiment and calculate a mean temperature measurement
• How could you test the effect of acid concentration on the energy released in a neutralisation reaction?

  1. Place both reactants in a water bath so they are the same temperature. Record the initial temperature.

  2. Add the alkali to the acid and record the final temperature

  3. Calculate the temperature change

  4. Repeat the process using different concentrations of acid

  5. Record the results for each concentration in a table
• What must be controlled when testing the effect of acid concentration in a neutralisation reaction?

  • Alkali concentration
  • Alkali volume
  • Acid volume
  • Initial temperatures of each reactant
  • External temperatures