OBJECTIVES

1. To compare the heat capacities of a coffee cup calorimeter and a copper

calorimeter.
2. To determine the standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide, ∆H˚ f.

INTRODUCTION

The heat of reaction for a given reaction, measured in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol)

can be calculated from the values of heat of reaction for other reactions. This is done

by making use of Hess’s Law. According to this law, it is permissible to write the

stoichiometric equations together with the enthalpy changes and to treat them as

mathematical equations where by the algebraic sums of the reactions are obtained.

In this experiment, you will determine the standard enthalpy (heat) of

formation of magnesium oxide. The equation for the formation of magnesium oxide

is:

Mg (s) + ½ O2 (g) → MgO (s) (1)

By considering the algebraic sum of the following reactions:

Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) (2)

MgO (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) (3)

H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) (4)

The heat of reactions for reactions (2) and (3) will be obtained experimentally

and for the reaction (4), the heat of formation can be obtained from the literature.

The heat capacity of a calorimeter can be obtained by measuring the temperature

change when a known weight of hot water is added to a known amount of cold water

in the calorimeter.
qhot = qcold + qcal

qhot = mhc(Th – Tf) = heat lost by hot water

qcold = mhc(Tf – Tc) = heat gained by cold water

qcal = Ccal(Tf – Tc) = heat gained by calorimeter

c = specific heat for water = 4.18 J /g /˚C

Ccal = heat capacity of the calorimeter

Th = temperature of hot water

Tc = temperature of cold water

Tf = final temperature after mixing

m = mass of water (hot or cold)

Note: The general form to calculate heat is q = mc∆T. The heat of reaction is usually

expressed in kJ/mol. i.e ∆H = q/n where n is the umber of moles of the reactant.

APPARATUS AND CHEMICALS

1. Thermometer (2). 6. 2.0M Hydrochloric acid.

2. Styrofoam cup with cardboard cover lid (2). 7. Magnesium oxide powder.
3. Coper calorimeter with insulating cover (2). 8. Magnesium powder.
4. 100cm3 beaker.
5. 100cm3 graduated cylinder.
PROCEDURE

A) Heat Capacity of Calorimeter

The double nested styrofoam cups are checked to be clean and dry.

1. A burette is used to deliver exactly 50cm 3 of tap water into the calorimeter.

Replace the cover and the thermometer. Record the water temperature for

four minutes at one minute intervals.

2. 50cm3 of hot water (40 - 50˚C above the room temperature) is measured

using a graduated cylinder and poured into a beaker. Using another

thermometer, the temperature of the hot water and measured and it is poured

completely into the calorimeter (containing the cold water) at the fifth minute.

The lid is replaced and the water is stirred carefully with the thermometer. The

temperature is recorded every 15 seconds for the next 3 minutes.

3. Steps (1) and (2) are repeated using the copper calorimeter.
A) Reaction 2: Magnesium with Hydrochloric Acid
1. 1.0 – 1.1g of magnesium powder is weighed. The exact weight is recorded.
2. 50cm3 of 2M HCl from a burette is drained into the calorimeter. The cover and

thermometer is replaced. The temperature of the HCl is recorded every

minute for four minutes. At the fifth minutes, the magnesium powder is quickly

poured into the HCl. The lif is replaced and the contents are stirred carefully

with the thermometer in the calorimeter. The temperature is recorded for the

next three minutes at 15 second intervals.

B) Reaction 3: Magnesium oxide with Hydrochloric Acid
1. 1.6 – 1.8g of magnesium oxide are weighed. The exact weight used is

recorded.
2. Steps (2) in B are repeated.
C) Reaction 4: Hydrogen gas with Oxygen gas.
This value is not experimentally determined in the laboratory for safety

reasons. It has been professionally determined and verified. The value is

listed in standard reference sources.

RESULTS
Temperature of hot water (˚C) 71.0
Mass of Mg (g) 1.0203
Mass of MgO (g) 1.6038

Coffee cup calorimeter Mg and HCl MgO and HCl

Time Temperature Time Temperature Time Temperature

(minute) (˚C) (minute) (˚C) (minute) (˚C)

1.00 31.0 1.00 30.5 1.00 31.0

2.00 31.0 2.00 30.5 2.00 31.0
3.00 31.0 3.00 30.5 3.00 31.0
4.00 31.0 4.00 30.5 4.00 31.0
5.15 49.0 5.15 91.0 5.15 44.0
5.30 49.0 5.30 92.5 5.30 45.0
5.45 49.0 5.45 85.0 5.45 45.0
6.00 49.0 6.00 82.0 6.00 45.0
6.15 49.0 6.15 79.0 6.15 45.0
6.30 49.0 6.30 75.5 6.30 46.0
6.45 49.0 6.45 75.0 6.45 56.0
7.00 48.5 7.00 69.5 7.00 47.0
7.15 48.5 7.15 69.0 7.15 47.0
7.30 48.5 7.30 68.5 7.30 48.0
7.45 48.5 7.45 68.5 7.45 48.5
8.00 48.5 8.00 68.5 8.00 49.0
GRAPHS
1) Coffee cup calorimeter

Graph of Temperature (˚C) against Time (min)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 Graph of Temperature (˚C) against Time (min)
100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2)

Reaction 2: Magnesium with Hydrochloric Acid

Graph of Temperature (˚C) against Time (min)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
3) R

eaction 3: Magnesium Oxide with Hydrochloric Acid

CALCULATIONS

Specific heat capacity of coffee cup calorimeter:

qhot = mc∆T qcold = mc∆T
= (50)(4.184)(Th – Tf) = (50)(4.184)(Tf – Tc)
= (50(4.184)(71 – 49) = (50)(4.184)(49 – 31)
= 4602.4 J = 3765.6 J
= 4.60 kJ = 3.77 kJ
qhot = qcold + qcal
4.60 kJ = 3.77 kJ + Ccal(Tf – Tc)
0.83 = Ccal(18)
Ccal = 0.04611 kJ / ˚C
Ccal = 46.11 J / ˚C
Reaction 2: Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
-q = mc∆T + C∆T
= (50)(4.184)(91-30.5) + (46.11)(91-30.5)
= 12656.60 + 2789.66
= 15446.26 J
q = -15.45 kJ
No. of mole Mg = 1.0203 ÷ 24.3050 No. of mole HCl = (2.0)(0.05)
= 0.042 mol = 0.1 mol
From the equation, 1 mole Mg : 2 mole HCl
0.042 mole Mg : 0.084 mole HCl (needed)
HCl is excess reactant. Mg is limiting reactant.
∆H = q ÷ mole
= -15.45 ÷ 0.042
= -367.86 kJ/mol
Reaction 3: MgO (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2O (l)
-q = mc∆T + C∆T
= (50)(4.184)(44 - 31) + (46.11)(44 - 31)
= 2719.6 + 599.43
= 3319.03 J
q = -3.32 kJ
No. of mole MgO = 1.6038 ÷ 40.305 No. of mole HCl = (2.0)(0.05)
= 0.04 mol = 0.1 mol
From the equation, 1 mole MgO : 2 mole HCl
0.04 mole MgO : 0.08 mole HCl (needed)
HCl is excess reactant. MgO is limiting reactant.
∆H = q ÷ mole
= -3.32 ÷ 0.04
= -83.0 kJ/mol
Heat of formation of Magnesium Oxide: Mg (s) + ½ O2 (g) → MgO (s)

Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) ∆H = -367.86 kJ/mol

MgCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) → MgO (s) + 2HCl (aq) ∆H = 83.0 kJ/mol

H2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) → H2O (l) ∆H = -285.8

kJ/mol

Mg (s) + ½ O2 (g) → MgO (s

∆Hf = (-367.86) + 83.0 + (-288.8)

= -570.66 kJ/mol
Theoretical value = -601.6 kJ/mol
(−601.6) – (−570.66)
Percentage error = ×100
−601.6
= 5.14 %
QUESTIONS

1. (a) Which of the two calorimeters: coffee cup calorimeter or copper

calorimeter has a higher heat capacity?

The copper calorimeter.
(b) What conclusion can you make regarding the relationship of heat

capacity of calorimeter with temperature change of the reactions?

Heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a

substance by 1˚C or 1K. A substance with a large heat capacity will only show

a small change of temperature compared to a substance with low heat

capacity of the same mass.

2. For the following problems, assume that the volume of the final solution

is 200cm3, the density of the solution is 1.00 g/mL and the specific heat

capacity of the solution is the same as water (4.184 J/g˚C).

(a) When 0.800g of Ca metal is added to 200cm 3 of 0.500M HCl (aq)

according to the method described in Procedure B, a temperature

increase of 13.0˚C is observed. What is ∆H at room temperature for

the reaction of Ca (s) + 2H+ (aq)?

Ca (s) + 2HCl (aq) → CaCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
-q = mc∆T m = 200g, ∆T = 13
= (200)(4.184)(13)
q = -10.88 kJ
Mol of HCl = (0.5)(0.2) Mol of Ca = 0.800 ÷ 40.08
= 0.1 mol = 0.01996 mol
From the equation, 1 mole Ca : 2 mole HCl
0.01996 mole Ca : 0.03992 mole HCl (needed)
Mole needed HCl > Mole available HCl. Ca is limiting reactant.

∆H = q ÷ mol
= -10.88 ÷ 0.01996
= -545.09 kJ /mol
(b) When 1.12g of CaO is added to 200cm 3 of 0.500M HCl (aq) according

to the method described in Procedure B, a temperature increase of

 4.62˚C is observed. What is the ∆H at room temperature for the

reaction of CaO (s) + 2H+ (aq)?

CaO (s) + 2HCl (aq) → CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (g)
-q = mc∆T m = 200g, ∆T = 4.62
= (200)(4.184)(4.62
q = -3.87 kJ
Mol of HCl = (0.5)(0.2) Mol of CaO = 1.12 ÷ 56.078
= 0.1 mol = 0.01997 mol
From the equation, 1 mole CaO : 2 mole HCl
0.01997 mole Ca : 0.03994 mole HCl (needed)
Mole needed HCl > Mole available HCl. CaO is limiting reactant.
∆H = q ÷ mol
= -3.87 ÷ 0.01997
= -193.79 kJ /mol

3. A student carelessly inserts the thermometer while assembling the

coffee cup calorimeter and a large hole is torn in the plastic lid. How will

this affect his experimental results?

The heat from the reaction will escape through the hole and will be lost to the

surrounding environment. His experimental results will deviate from the

theoretical value.
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the heat capacities of a coffee cup calorimeter and copper

calorimeter has been calculated, and their values are 46.11 J/˚C and 473 J/˚C

respectively. The values for the standard enthalpy of formation of magnesium oxide

using a coffee cup calorimeter and copper calorimeter has also been determined to

be -570.66 kJ/mol and -146.02 kJ/mol respectively.

REFERENCES

1) U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the United States

of America, 2017. Magnesium Oxide. Retrieved on 20 March

2018 from https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?

ID=C1309484&Mask=2
2) AUS-e-TUTE, 21 May 2017. Standard Heat of Formation Chemistry Tutorial.

Retrieved on 20 March 2018 from http://www.ausetute.com.au/heatform.html

3) Jonathan Nguyen (UCD), Garrett Larimer (UCD), 10 February 2017. Standard

Enthalpy of Formation. Retrieved on 20 March 2018 from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Thermo

dynamics/Energies_and_Potentials/Enthalpy/Standard_Enthalpy_Of_Formati

on