LABORATORY ACTIVITY #4: CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS

A. Objectives:
1. Measure enthalpy changes of aqueous solutions.
2. Calculate entropy changes.
3. Determine whether the process is exothermic or endothermic.
4. Determine whether the process is spontaneous or non-spontaneous.
B. Materials:

NH4Cl crystals (or NH4NO3 crystals)

CaCl2 crystals (or solid NaOH)
Distilled water
Thermometer
2 or 3 styrofoam cups per group (coffee-cup calorimeter)
C. Procedure:
1. Secure 2 clean and dry Styrofoam cups and insert one into the other.
2. Provide the cup with a tightly fitting cover with 2 holes through which a thermometer
and a stirrer are inserted. Another styrofoam cup or a piece of cardboard may be used
as cover.
3. Calculate the mass in grams of the solid needed (NH4Cl) to prepare 20 mL of a 1.0 M
solution. Have your calculations checked by the teacher. Weigh the required amount of
solid and record the mass in the data sheet.
4. Place about 20 mL of distilled water in the calorimeter.
5. Measure the temperature of water and once it is constant, add the required amount of
solid into the calorimeter. Record this as initial temperature.
6. Replace the cover of the calorimeter and gently mix until the solid crystals are
completely dissolved.
7. Keep recording the temperature while the crystals are dissolving until it stabilizes.
Record this as the final temperature.
8. Repeat the procedure using the same solid and average the data for the 2 trials.
9. Repeat procedures 1 to 8, but this time, replace the solid. Use CaCl2 crystals.
10. Calculate q and the enthalpy change for the dissolution process. Assume that the
calorimeter loses or absorbs negligible amount of heat only and the addition of crystals
does not affect the volume appreciably. Since the solution is relatively dilute and made
up predominantly of water, which is 1.0 g/mL and 4.18 J/gC, respectively. Use these
values to calculate q and enthalpy.
q=mcΔt
ΔH= q
No. of moles solid
 D. Data and Calculations
a. Dissolution of NH4Cl salt
Trial 1 Trial 2
Mass of the salt
No. Of moles of salt
Volume of water
Mass of the solution
Initial temperature
Final temperature
Temperature change, ΔT
Average ΔT

Calculate the heat involved, q, for the dissolution process.

Calculate the enthalpy change, ΔH, in kJ/mol.

Write the thermochemical equation for the process.

Calculate ΔS for the process using the standard entropy values listed in thermodynamic data table.

Calculate the Gibbs free energy in kJ/mol. Do the calculations in two ways.
 After calculating ΔH experimentally and determining ΔS, use those values to calculate ΔG and
the equation, ΔG=ΔH-TΔS
 Use standard Thermodynamic VAlues for free energy of formation and the equation, ΔG=
ΣΔGproduct - ΣΔGreactants
 Compare the two values obtained.

b. Dissolution of CACl2 salt

Trial 1 Trial 2
Mass of the salt
No. Of moles of salt
Volume of water
Mass of the solution
Initial temperature
Final temperature
Temperature change, ΔT
Average ΔT
Calculate the heat involved, q, for the dissolution process.

Calculate the enthalpy change, ΔH, in kJ/mol.

Write the thermodynamical equation for the process.

Calculate ΔS for the process using the standard entropy values, S°, listed in thermodynamic data table.

Calculate Gibbs free energy, in kJ/mol. Do the calculations in two wats, as in Part A and compare the two
values obtained.

QUESTIONS: Give the basis for each answer.

1. Which dissolution process is exothermic? Is endothermic?
2. In which process was there a decrease or increases in entropy?
3. Which process is spontaneous? Nonspontaneous?