Vo,1

Ted Vo
Per 1
11/22/13
AP Chemistry
Molar Mass of Calcium Lab
Purpose:
To calculate the theoretical heat of formation for the reaction of solid calcium metal
reacting with nitric acid. From this information we can calculate the percent error of the heat
liberated in the reaction between 0.750 grams of calcium and 100 mL of 0.50 M nitric acid, as
well as an energy profile of the reaction. In addition, a titration of the unreacted acid with 0.15M
NaOH will yield moles of calcium reacted. Therefore, molar mass of the lab can be determined
as well.

Materials:
Calcium metal, nitric acid, calorimeter, thermometer, buret, .15 M standardized NaOH,
phenolphthalein, stirring bar and stirring plate.
Data
Given:

0.750 g Ca (s)

100 mL of 0.50M HNO3

Reaction: Ca(s) + 2HNO3 (aq) -> Ca(NO3)2 (aq) + H2 (g) + Heat

Part 1

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Recorded heat Time (sec)

Temp (C)

Change in heat (C)

17

30

19

60

24

90

28

120

31

150

34

180

36

210

37

240

37

270

37

300

37

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NaOH + HNO3 -> H2O +
Equation

NaNO3

mL of NaOH

Theoritcal aliquot in 100mL

Titration data mL of HNO3

aliquot

of HNO3

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
Trial 6
Trial 7
Trial 8
Average

10.7
9.5
9.3
9.8
18.1
18.4
8.2
8.3

x10
x10
x10
x10
x5
x5
x10
x10

10
10
10
10
20
20
10
10

107
95
93
98
90.5
92
82
83
92.5625

0.750 grams of Ca metal reacts with 100 mL of 0.50

M HNO3. Vt = 92.6 mL of 0.150 M NaOH. Ca
+2HNO3 = Ca(NO3)2 + H2

1) Mol of OH- in NaOH

0.150

92.6 mL

mol

of

NaOH

aliquot

.=
1L

1 mol

0.0139

OH-

mol OH-

1 mol
1L
0.0139
2) OH- to H+

1000 mL
1 mol

mol OH- H+
1 mol

NaOH

.= 0.0139
mol H+

OH

3) mol of H+ before Ca is add

100 mL

1L

0.50 mol

.=0.0500

H+

mol H+

1000
mL
0.05004) H+ after reaction

0.0139

1L
mol H+

0.0361

used

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5) mol of H to Ca

0.00361 1 mol

.=0.0181

mol H+

mol Ca

Ca
2 mol
HNO3

3sf ->
0.750 g
6) Molar mass of Ca

Ca

41.4364640 41.4
1 amu

883978

amu Ca

0.0181
mol Ca
0.96806763
7) % efficiency

actual
theo

40.078
41.4

Summary:

Part 1
Ca (s) + 2HNO3 (aq) -> Ca(NO3)2 (aq) + H2 (g) +
Equation
Theo heat
Experimental

Heat
.= -590.8 kJ

heat
% error

.= -674 kJ
.= 14.08% error

Part 2
Equation
NaOH + HNO3 -> H2O + NaNO3
Average aliquot .= 92.6 mL of NaOH

2850242

.=96.8 %

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Molar mass of
Ca (from
experiment)

.= 41.4 amu Ca

% efficiency

.= 96.8%

Conclusion:
In this lab we played around with chemicals that gave off an exothermic reaction, where
heat is given off when certain compounds meet together.For the equation (part 1) Ca (s) + 2HNO3
(aq)

-> Ca(NO3)2 (aq) + H2 (g) + Heat, we found out that our percent error was 14.08% and for the

equation (part 2) NaOH + HNO3 -> H2O + NaNO3 ,we found 3.2% error. The mistakes we
produced from this lab was that on the first reaction we forgot to place the lid back on the mug,
so the heat escaped much easier than it should of had. The lab was interesting from my
perspective because it teaches us more than just chemistry, it taught me how to deal with
pressure while working with limited time, so little room to remake the trials if we mess up badly.
that can prepare us for future jobs, and even organizing school better.