Discussion

Hess Law defines the heat of any reaction H for a specific reaction is equal to the sum of the
heats of reaction for any set of reactions which in sum are equivalent to the overall reactions. In
our case exothermic reaction is applied for this experiment involving three part or stages in
obtaining H changes and study the reaction that involve in Hess Law.

Before discussing the result from the experiment, the experimenter must understand first the
definition of enthalpy change which is enthalpy change is the name given to the amount of heat
released or absorbed in a reaction carried out at constant pressure which in our experiment we
are more focusing or heat release. Also, in applying the formula for calculation in obtaining the
result of H changes. The formula used for this experiment is

q=m s T

Q = specific heat
M = mass
T = Tf Ti (Final temperature Initial temperature)
S = Specific heat capacity of water, Swater = 4.184J/gC

The reason for using the same amount of specific heat capacity of water, S is even in different
solution, there are still water present and even if there is a difference it will only be slightly
different and other factors ignored and use the constant amount of specific heat capacity of water,
S which is 4.184J/gC.
In better understanding of the stages which includes part A ( Solid NaOH + Distilled water ) ,
Part B ( NaOH Solution + HCL Solution ) and Part C ( Solid NaOH + HCL Solution ), the
differences between Part A is the reaction of solid with water resulting in the lowest temperature
due to single reaction from solid NaOH while for Part B the temperature increase higher than
Part A due to reaction between both solution and lastly for Part C which is the highest and the
total of Part A and Part B is the reaction between solid NaOH and HCL solution which make it
warmer than other reaction due to heat release from solid NaOH into the HCL solution. All of
these experiment is due to specific heat contain in each solid and solution and the reaction
between it resulting in the temperature increase.

Based upon the result from Part A, H is 50.11kJ/mol. The temperature recorded is 25C for Ti
(Initial temperature) and 31C for Tf (Final temperature) the specific heat obtained should be
slightly higher than the result calculated. Due to the variation of temperature might as well
having the error in result. The temperature plays important role in this experiment when
calculating the heat released or absorbed the temperature should stay in range of the experiment
needed.

For the second part which is Part B, the same problem occurred in Part A resulting in a slightly
lower value than the value should be conserved. The result after the calculation is applied is
22.94kJ/mol when the Ti is 25C meanwhile Tf is 34C. This error may arise due to thermometer
error, since thermometer might come from 4 main factor of instrument errors which is accuracy,
range, response time and sensitivity which may suggest that the instruments is getting old.
The last part which is part 3 or Part C, the result obtain is 79.6kJ/mol. The result which should be
the sum or the total of Part A and Part B, from the Hess Law theory stated that the heat of any
reaction for a specific reaction is equal to the sum of the heats of reaction for any set of reactions
which in sum are equivalent to the overall reactions. In other words the equation from the theory
should be: H3 = H1 + H2

For the result H3 = H1 + H2

H1 = 50.11kJ/mol

H2 = 22.94kJ/mol

H3 = 79.6kJ/mol

H1 + H2 = 73.05kJ/mol

Since the result of the experiment H3 is the total of H1 + H2, the differences of the result
from the right answer is 6.65kJ/mol considering all the errors discussed above. To increase the
accuracy of result for this experiment, it is suggested that the thermometer should be tested first
before starting the experiment to avoid further error in measuring the temperature which plays an
important role in obtaining the best results because in physical chemistry, accuracy and precision
is the vital part in having a good result of measurement.