Data Table:

MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)

Time (seconds) ± 1 sec. Temperature (ºC) ± .1ºC
0 22.55 *
30 22.61
60 22.61
90 22.61
120 22.80
150 28.60
180 28.60
210 28.60
240 28.40
270 28.56
300 28.56
330 29.11 **
360 28.93

Time (seconds) ± 1 sec. Temperature (ºC) ± .1ºC

0 23.26
30 23.17 *
60 23.17
90 23.17
120 28.37
150 35.17
180 36.93
210 38.00
240 38.80
270 39.50
300 40.21
330 42.05
360 42.05 **
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

* = Tinitial, ** = Tfinal
 AidenKenr
Chem pd 2
Enthalpy of Reaction Lab
29-III-2011
Purpose:
Investigate the enthalpy of the reaction: Mg(s) + ½ O2 (g) MgO(s) without direct
experimentation, using Hess’ Law for the found experimental enthalpies of the reactions:
MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
and the formation of water, H2(g) + ½ O2(g) H2O(l).

Hypothesis:
If Mg and MgO react with HCl, in separate reactions, both reactions will be exothermic,
with high enthalpy values because Mg and MgO are limiting reagents, and HCl is
covalent, and in order to use up the limiting reagents and to break the bonds of HCl for it
to completely disassociate, a high amount of heat must be produced.

Materials:
 250 mL beaker
 2 Styrofoam cups, temperature probe, copper stirrer (Calorimeter)
 Small cup to hold samples of Mg and MgO
 .497g Mg
 .933g MgO
 100g HCl
 TI-84 Calculator
 CBL and Data Mate Program
 Safety Goggles

Diagram:
Copper Stirrer

Temperature Probe

Lid
Calorimeter
Stacked
Cups

Beaker

100g HCl
Constants:
 Size of Beaker
 Size and type of cups
 Room Pressure
 Time Mg or MgO sample added
 Intervals of time (30 sec)

Variables:

Independent Dependent Controlled

.497g Mg Enthalpy of Reactions Amount HCl (100g HCl)
.933g MgO - Type and size of cups
_ _ Calibrated Data Mate
Program

Procedure:

1) Obtain safety goggles

2) Obtain measurement of amount of solid, by measuring cup with sample in.
3) Pour 100g HCl in Styrofoam cup.
4) Insert probe, begin Data Mate Program
5) Record initial temperature, and every 30 seconds after
6) After 90 seconds, add solid sample
7) Obtain actual measurement of sample by measuring mass of sample-holding cup, and
subtract that from initial mass with sample in.
8) Continue to record temperature every 30 seconds until 6 minutes has been reached.
9) Record post-experiment observations.
10) Remove probe, dispose of materials properly.

Observations MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l):

 MgO powdery substance

 Cup hot
 Temperature raised quickly, heat released
 began to cool after 5.5 minutes
 Solution clear at beginning and end of experiment
 Only water left

Observations Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g):

 Mg metal pieces, small, silvery, metallic

 Heat realeased
 Temperature raised quickly, got very hot
 Did not begin to cool in 6 minutes
 Solution clear at beginning and end
 Gas released at end (hydrogen)
Data Processing:

Assumptions:
1) Assume Density of system is same as water
2) Assume Specific Heat is same as water

Grams of Samples -
[(Mass of Cup w/ Sample) - Mass of Cup]

1) Cup + Mg = 2.385g 2) Cup + MgO = 3.093g

Cup = 1.888 g Cup = 2.100g
2.385g 3.093g
- 1.888g - 2.100g
.497g Mg .933g MgO

Amount of HCl -
1mL HCl 1 M HCl
100g HCl x 1g HCl x 100 mL HCl = 1M HCl

Moles of Samples -
1mol
[g x ]
g
1 mol Mg
1) .497g Mg x = .020 mol Mg
24.30 g Mg

2) .933g MgO x 1 mol MgO = .023 mol MgO

40.30g MgO
Limiting Reagent -
1) Rxn: MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
.933g MgO
100g HCl
.23 mol MgO
g HCl  mol HCl, mol MgO  mol HCl
1 mol HCl
100g HCl x = 5.48 mol HCl
36.36g HCl
1 mol MgO
5.48 mol HCl x = 2.74 mol MgO needed, only have .23 mol MgO
2mol HCl
MgO=Limiting Reagent
Products:
1 mol MgCl2, 1 mol H2O
mol MgO  mol MgCl2  g MgCl2
.23mol MgO x 1 mol MgCl2 x 95.21 g MgCl2 = 21.89g MgCl2 produced
mol MgO  mol 1Hmol2 O g H2O
MgO 1 mol MgCl2
.23mol MgO x 1 mol H2O x 18g H2O = 4.14g H2O produced
1 mol MgO 1 mol H2O

2) Rxn: Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

.497g MgO
100g HCl
.20 mol MgO
g HCl  mol HCl, mol MgO  mol HCl
1 mol HCl
100g HCl x = 5.48 mol HCl
36.36g HCl
1 mol Mg
5.48 mol HCl x = 2.74 mol Mg needed, only have .20 mol MgO
2mol HCl
Mg=Limiting Reagent

Products:
1 mol MgCl2, 1 mol H2
mol Mg  mol MgCl2  g MgCl2
.20mol Mg x 1 mol MgCl2 x 95.21 g MgCl2 = 21.89g MgCl2 produced
1 mol Mg 1 mol MgCl2
mol Mg  mol H2  g H2
.20mol Mg x 1 mol H2 x 2g H2 = .4g H2 produced
1 mol Mg 1 mol H2

Change in Temperature: ΔT -
[ΔT = Tfinal - Tinitial]

1) Rxn: MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)

Tinitial = 22.55 ºC
Tfinal = 29.11ºC
ΔT = 29.11-22.55 ºC
ΔT = 6.56 ºC
2) Rxn: Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Tinitial = 23.17 ºC
Tfinal = 42.05 ºC
ΔT = 42.05-23.17
ΔT = 18.88 ºC

Enthalpy: q
[-q = mc ΔT] (Negative enthalpy because reaction is exothermic)
m = 100g HCl
 4.18 kJ
c=
g • ºC
ΔT from previous equations.
**Divide q/1000 to get into kJ**

1) Rxn: MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)

4.18 kJ
-q = 100g x g • ºC x 6.56 ºC
-q = 2742.08 J/1000
-q = 2.74kJ_______________
-2.74 kJ

2) Rxn: Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

4.18 kJ
-q = 100g x g • ºC x 18.88 ºC
-q = 7891.84J/1000
-q = 7.89kJ_______________
-7.89 kJ

ΔH -
q
[ ]
moles of sample
1) Rxn: MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
q = -2.74 kJ
moles = .023

-2.74 kJ /.023 mol MgO = -119.13

2) Rxn: Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

q = -7.89 kJ
moles = .020

-7.89 kJ /.020 mol MgO = -394.5

Hess’ Law Calculations -
Find enthalpy of: Mg(s) + ½ O2 (g) MgO(s)

1 MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) = -119.13 kJ

2 Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) = -394.50 kJ

3
H2(g) + ½ O2(g) H2O(l) = -285 (given) kJ

reverse MgO for equation 4

4 MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)  MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) = 119.13 kJ

Add 2 , 3 , and 4

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g) = -394.50 kJ

MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)  MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) = 119.13 kJ
H2(g) + ½ O2(g) H2O(l) = -285 (given) kJ__________
Mg(s) + ½ O2 (g) MgO(s) = (-394.50)+(119.13)+(-285)

Mg(s) + ½ O2 (g) MgO(s) = -559.87 kJ

Percent Error -

accepted (literature) value - experimental value

accepted (literature) value x 100

Literature value for

Mg(s) + ½ O2 (g) MgO(s) = -601 kJ

(-601kJ) - (-559.87)
-601 kJ = .068 x 100 = 6.8% Error
Conclusion/Evaluation

In conclusion, my hypothesis proved to be true because the Mg and MgO were limiting
reagents, and had to be used up, and the reactions were exothermic, resulting in a high,
negative enthalpy. The Heat must be very high because both reactions were double
displacement, and those bonds had to be broken, between molecules with high molar
mass.
MgO is powdery because the oxygen bonded to the magnesium creates a less
metallic compound than pure Mg, and MgO loses metallic properties. Mg is silvery and
metallic because its electrons at high energy and molecules at high density create sheen
and density of the sample. The reaction of Mg and HCl occurred much quicker than MgO
and HCl because there are less molecules to be broken down in Mg than MgO. This also
accounts for why the reaction of MgO has a much lower change in temperature, ΔT, as
well as overall enthalpy, ΔH; more molecules to be broken, but could not be in the
amount of time given. The reaction of Mg and HCl also got a lot hotter because hydrogen
gas was released, which has a high entropy, higher than H2O, and so heat would be able
to be conducted easier. Both solutions are clear at the end because Mg and MgO, since
they are limiting reagents, have been used up, and all that is left is hydrogen gas, which
will disperse into the air, and liquid water, respectively.

Errors and Limitations:

1)(Limitation)Final enthalpy calculations for the unknown equation came very close to
the literature value, and I had a percent error of 6.8%. The difference in enthalpy values
can be attributed to many different factors. (Error)The conditions of standard temperature
and pressure (25°C and 101.3 kPa) could have been different in our experiment,
considering we did not measure either the room temperature.
2)(Limitation) In addition, the calorimeter used is unprofessional, and cannot guarantee
complete insulation, and neither can the lid.
3) (Error)After the first experiment, we washed out the cups but did not dry them. The
leftover water in the cups potentially diluted the solution, altering the results.
5)(Limitation) Assumed that HCl had the same density and specific heat as H2O. This
could have drastically altered the calculations of delta q for both experiments,
subsequently impacting the other calculations.

Improving investigation:
1) To correct any uncertainty in conditions, a limitation, the experiment must be executed
in a very controlled environment, however these resources are not available in a high
school academic setting, and so the experiment will never be carried out under standard
conditions exactly. The best that one could do is measure conditions prior to
experimentation, and take those into account.

2) The calorimeters provided worked well, however to ensure completely accurate

measurements, sure insulation with cups and lid would be helpful.

3) To fix this, the cups must be dried out next time, as well as all other materials that
come into contact with liquid, to ensure that no dilution occurs.

4) There is a possibility that the density could have been slightly off, as well as the
specific heat. To correct this, density must be measured exactly, and specific heat
measured in a separate experiment.

If I were to execute the experiment again, I would use a more precise timer, as well as a
professional calorimeter, and take all measurements, and provide all samples myself,
rather than them given to me, to ensure all is correct. Also, I would perform the
experiment in a perfectly controlled environment, in which temperature and pressure are
constant.