Effect of concentration on enthalpy change of single displacement reaction

George Saad

Date: 1/4/2015
Draft: Final draft
Class: 10MYP (5)
Subject: Chemistry
Unit Title: Energetics
Task: Lab report Task
Teacher’s Name: Christine Ziadat.
Aim:
To investigate the effect of changing the concentration of 15mL (0.5 mol/L , 0.9 mol/L, 1 mol/L) of HCl on
the enthalpy change of single displacement reaction between hydrochloric acid and 5g of zinc metal. By
measuring the change of temperature in °C using constant pressure calorimeter and keeping all other
variables constant.

Hypothesis:
If I increase the concentration of 15mL hydrochloric acid, then the enthalpy change will increase.
Scientific Background:

Energy is the ability to do work (Helmenstine). Energy

cannot be created or destroyed however; energy can
be converted from one form to another, as the Law of
conservation of energy states (TutorVista). Energy is
found in many forms, particularly heat energy Figure
(Kwak).1:To
begin with, Heat is the amount of energy in a Heat Energy
system
(Rader). Heat energy either released from (HRSB).
system to
surrounding, or absorbed from surrounding to system
(Chemistry). Here, the law of conservation of energy is evident since chemical energy stored in chemical bonds are
converted into heat energy and released from system to surrounding, or absorb heat energy to form chemical bonds,
therefore absorb heat energy from surrounding to system (LeMoyne). Any chemical reaction absorbs and releases heat
energy, however, it is the proportion how much heat energy released relative to the heat energy required that
categorizes them into exothermic or endothermic reactions (USNA). In reactions where the energy released during the
formation of products bonds is greater than the energy required to break the reactants bonds, the reactions are
exothermic (ChemistryDesk). In reaction where energy released during the formation of products bonds is less than the
energy required to break the reactants bonds, the reactions are endothermic (Enotes). This act of studying the heat
released or absorbed is defined as calorimetry (PhysicsClassrom). Since heat energy is scientifically termed as enthalpy,
calorimetry measurers the enthalpy change that was either absorbed or released (uWaterloo). Specific methods are
used to undergo the study of calorimetry, such as constant pressure calorimetry and constant volume calorimetry
(EMSB). Using constant pressure calorimeter for this investigation allows determining the heat exchanged from either
system to surrounding using the equation shown in Figure 1 (Socratic). Figure 1 shows how heat energy is calculated by
multiplying the mass of the solution in grams assuming that any solution is water, by the specific heat of water; 4.18J/g
°C, and the change of temperature. Using calorimeter, the change in temperature is deduced to calculate the heat
energy. Afterwards, the heat energy calculated is divided by the number of moles of the limiting reactant, which is
deduced from multiplying the concentration by the volume of the limiting reactant, to obtain the change of enthalpy as
shown in Figure 2. Observing Figure 2, it is clear that the heat energy (Q) is directly proportional to enthalpy change
(∆H), meaning that there are certain factors which affect the amount of heat released which either increase or decrease
the change of enthalpy, one factor is concentration of the limiting reactant (Clackamas). Concentration is expressed as
mol/L, meaning the amount of substance per liter (TPC). As the amount of substance per liter increases, then the more
reactants will be present in the solution (ChemGuide). The more the amount of reactants, the greater the amount of
bonds formed during the reaction (Chem1). Therefore, the more the amount of bonds formed, the more heat energy is
released from system to surroundings (Britanica). Since heat energy released is proportional to enthalpy change as
shown in Figure 2, thus, the more heat energy released, the greater the enthalpy change of a reaction. The following is
the chemical reaction and word equation of the investigation.

Symbol Equation: Zn(s) + 2HCl (aq)  ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Word Equation: Zinc + Hydrochloric Acid  Zinc Chloride +Hydrogen gas

Figure 2:
Change of
enthalpy
(Bitesize)
Independent Variable: Concentration of 15mL hydrochloric acid (0.5mol/L, 0.9mol/L, 1mol/L).

Dependent Variable: Temperature change of 15mL HCl in °C

Controlled Variables

 Type of acid: the type of acid is HCl (aq). Different acids have different strengths; hydrochloric acid
is a strong acid, if a weak acid was used, then the temperature recorded would be lower and the
enthalpy change would be less.
 Type of metal: The type of metal is Zinc metal. Different metals have different reactivity, zinc
metal reactivity is low, if a metal with higher reactivity was used, then the temperature recorded
will be high and the enthalpy change would be greater.
 Volume of acid: The volume of acid is 15mL. If an acid with greater volume was used, then the
number of moles will increase, increasing the enthalpy change of single displacement reaction
between HCl (aq) and Zinc metal.
 Amount of metal: The amount of metal is 5g. If a metal of greater amount was used, then the
more amount of bonds formed between zinc metal and hydrochloric acid, increasing the total
amount of heat released, increasing the enthalpy change of the reaction.
 Surface Area: The surface area of the Zinc metal is a powder. If a lower surface area of zinc
powder was used, then the more the amount of inaccessible zinc particles will be present that
will not react with the HCl molecules; decreasing the heat released and decreasing the enthalpy
change of the reaction.

Materials:

 3x 15mL Hydrochloric Acid (0.5 mol/L, 0.9mol/L, 1 mol/L)

 1x Digital scale ±0.01g
 1x Digital thermometer ±0.1 °C
 1x 3mL Dropper
 1x 50mL Graduated cylinder ±1.0mL
 1x 600mL beaker
 1x Marker
 2x Polystyrene cups
 3x 50mL beakers
 1x Stopwatch ±0.1 seconds
 1x Weighing bottle
 3x 5g Zinc metal
Method:

1. Connect digital balance into electrical socket, turn on the digital balance and place the weighing
bottle onto the digital balance, press tare, then add zinc metal until the digital balance reads
5.00g.
2. Pour 15.0mL of 0.5 mol/L hydrochloric acid into the 50mL graduated cylinder and calibrate the
volume of hydrochloric acid using the 3mL dropper.
3. Pour the 15.0mL of 0.5 mol/L hydrochloric acid from the 50mL graduated cylinder onto the
50mL beaker, and mark the beaker according to its concentration using a marker.
4. Place the two polystyrene cups inside each other in the 600mL beaker.
5. Pour the 0.5mol/L HCl from 50mL beaker onto the polystyrene cups, then measure the initial
temperature using the digital thermometer in °C each 5.0 seconds for 1 minute using the digital
stopwatch. Record the observations into the observational table.
6. Add the 5.00g of zinc metal from the weighing bottle into the polystyrene cups with 15mL 0.5
mol/L HCl. Record the temperature change using digital thermometer in °C each 5.0 seconds
until the reaction stops.
7. Record temperature change of 15mL HCl in °C into the observational table.
8. Repeat step 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 for HCl concentration (0.9 mol/L, 1mol/L)
Observational Table: The temperature of 15mL HCl (aq) (0.5mol/L, 0.9mol/L, 1mol/L) measured by the
reaction with 5g zinc metal each 5 seconds for 3 minutes.

Concentration of HCl (mol/L)

0.5 mol/L 0.9 mol/L 1 mol/L
Time(s) ±0.1s Temperature (°C) ±0.1°C of HCl when reacted with 5g Zinc
5.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
10.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
15.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
20.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
25.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
30.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
35.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
40.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
45.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
50.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
55.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
60.0 19.40 19.30 19.50
65.0 19.60 19.80 20.80
70.0 19.80 20.30 21.60
75.0 20.00 20.80 22.50
80.0 20.20 21.30 23.00
85.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
90.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
95.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
100.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
105.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
110.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
115.0 20.40 21.40 23.00
120.0 20.30 21.40 23.00
125.0 20.30 21.39 23.00
130.0 20.30 21.38 22.98
135.0 20.36 21.37 22.96
140.0 20.35 21.36 22.94
145.0 20.34 21.35 22.92
150.0 20.33 21.34 22.90
155.0 20.32 21.33 22.88
160.0 20.31 21.32 22.86
165.0 20.30 21.31 22.84
170.0 20.29 21.30 22.82
175.0 20.28 21.29 22.80
180.0 20.27 21.28 22.78
Graphs:
 Temperature change for 15mL of 0.5 (mol/L) HCl
when reacted with 5.00g of zinc metal
20.6
Y-axis
20.4
20.2
20 Final Temperature
=20.51°C
Temperature 19.8
of
HCl 19.6
(°C)
19.4
19.2
19
18.8
5 25 45 65 85 105 125 145 165
Time (s)
X-axis

Temperature change for 15mL of 0.9 (mol/L) HCL

when reacted with 5.00g of zinc metal
Y-axis
22

21.5
Final Temperature
=21.52°C
21

Temperature
of 20.5
HCl
(°C)
20

19.5

19
5 25 45 65 85 105 125 145 165
Time(s)
X-axis
 Temperature change for 15mL of 1 (mol/L) HCl
24
when reacted with 5.00g of zinc metal
Y-axis
23.5

23 Final Temperature
=23.245°C
22.5

22
Temperature
of 21.5
HCl
(°C) 21

20.5

20

19.5

19
5 25 45 65 85 105 125 145 165
Time (s) X-axis
Calculations: Calculations of enthalpy change for each concentration of 15ml HCl (0.5mol/L, 0.9mol/L,
and 1mol/L) using the final temperature deduced from extrapolation of each concentration of 15mL HCl

Concentration (mol/L) of HCl Calculation of enthalpy change

Q=m∗C∗∆ T
Q=15 g∗4.18 J / g ° C∗(20.51 ° C−19.4 ° C)
Q=69.597 J
Q=0.069 kJ
Q(kJ )
∆H=
mol /L∗Lof limiting reactant

0.5 mol/L of HCl 0.069 kJ

∆H=
0.5 mol /L∗0.015 L

0.069 kJ
∆H=
0.0075 mol

∆H= -9.28 kJmol-1

Q=m∗C∗∆ T
Q=15 g∗4.18 J / g ° C∗(21.52 ° C−19.3 ° C)
Q=139.194 J
Q=0.139 kJ
Q(kJ )
∆H=
mol /L∗Lof limiting reactant
0.9 mol/L of HCl
0.139 kJ
∆H=
0.9 mol/ L∗0.015 L

0.139 kJ
∆H=
0.0135 mol

∆H= -10.31 kJmol-1

Q=m∗C∗∆ T
Q=15 g∗4.18 J / g ° C∗(23.25 ° C−19.5° C)
Q=234.812 J
Q=0.235 kJ
Q(kJ )
∆H=
1 mol/L of HCl mol /L∗Lof limiting reactant

0.235 kJ
∆H=
1(mol /L)∗0.015 L

0.235 kJ
∆H=
0.015 mol

∆H= -15.65 kJmol-1

Conclusion:
To conclude, the prediction was supported and justified. For the reason that as the concentration of
15mL HCl (aq) increased from 0.5 mol/L, 0.9 mol/L, 1.0 mol/L, the enthalpy change increased by
-9.28 kJmol-1, -10.31 kJmol-1 and -15.65 kJmol-1 respectively. These results have been obtained since the
more the concentration of 15mL HCl (aq), the more the amount of HCl molecules per liter of the solution.
Thus, this implies that there are more reactant particles that are present between the single
displacement reaction between Zinc metal and hydrochloric acid. The more reactant particles present in
the single displacement reaction, the more bonds formed between Zinc metal and hydrochloric acid.
Since bond formation releases energy, the more amount of bonds formed, the more the release of
thermal energy from system to surrounding. This energy released increases the final temperature
recorded by the digital thermometer in °C using the constant pressure calorimeter, which increased the
temperature change of HCl when reacted with 5g of Zinc metal. Using Figure 1 to calculate heat energy
released by the reaction, change of temperature in °C is directly proportional to amount of heat
released in kJ, therefore, the more the change of temperature, the greater the amount of heat released.
According to calculations of enthalpy change shown in Figure 2, the amount of heat released is directly
proportional to enthalpy change; hence, the higher amount of heat released, the more the enthalpy
change. As a result, this justifies my prediction that as the concentration of HCl (aq) increase, the more the
enthalpy change of single displacement reaction between Zinc metal and hydrochloric acid.

Sources of Error:

 The zinc was present in lumps which decreased the surface area of the metal, when the surface
area of the metal decreased, the more the amount of inaccessible particles of Zinc metal with
the HCl molecules, which decreased the amount of particles who are able to form bonds with
the HCL and decreased the amount of heat released, therefore, decreased the enthalpy change.
 The volume of the HCl acid was slightly above 15mL when observed with the graduated
cylinder, which increased the volume of the limiting reactant, resulting in increase of calculating
the number of moles. Since the number of moles are indirectly proportional to enthalpy
change, then the greater number of moles, the more the enthalpy change.
 The mass of the Zinc metal was slightly below the 5.00g, this decreased the amount of
reactants, which decreased the bonds formed and decreasing the amount of heat energy
released, resulting in a lower temperature change, therefore a lower enthalpy change.

Improvements:
  Compress the zinc lumps into powder to increase surface area and increase the amount of
accessible zinc particles to react with the HCl (aq) in which the amount of bonds formed would
incline and heat released from system to surrounding will be more and make the change of
enthalpy more accurate relative to the chosen surface area of the zinc metal.
 Avoid parallax by looking towards the graduated cylinder perpendicularly. This will result in
more precise measurements, which would lead to more exact calculations for the chosen
volume of the HCl acid.
 Measure the zinc powder more precisely by adding exactly 5.00g of Zinc metal using the digital
balance. This will make the Zinc metal amount as specified, which would adjust the temperature
according to the chosen amount of zinc metal, therefore the more accurate calculation of
enthalpy change.

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