Determining the Effectiveness of Container Lids on Heat Absorption: Measuring Heat of Reaction for NaOH(aq) and HCl(aq)
Journal Title
Loading...
Issue Date
2014
Authors
Burton, Christine L.
Publisher
Monroe Community College
Keywords
Community colleges -- New York (State) -- Rochester -- Periodicals. , student publications
Abstract
In the General Chemistry I laboratory at Monroe Community College, students combine a strong base, 1.0M NaOH(aq), with a strong acid, 1.0M HCl(aq), to assess the temperature change of the solution as a result of the chemical reaction. The temperature change of the solution is used to calculate the heat of solution. The reaction is carried out in a Styrofoam cup with a wooden lid to retain heat as per experimental protocol. We assessed whether different lid composites would influence the heat of solution generated in the vessel during an experiment. There were four conditions to the experiment: (1) Control - no lid, (2) wood lid, (3) wood lined with Styrofoam lid and (4) Plexiglas lid. Thirty trials were run for each condition of the experiment. The mean heat of solution was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for Condition 1 (no lid) than Condition 2 (wood lid) or Condition 4 (Plexiglas lid). There was not a significant difference (p > 0.05) in the mean heat of reaction between Condition 1 and Condition 3 (wood with Styrofoam lined lid). Our results suggest that a lid is no better at retaining the heat of solution than no lid which supports the removal of the lid from the experiment.
Description
DOI
Collections
Content Designation
Archived web content