UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

College of Science
España Blvd., Manila, Philippines

Experiment # 6
HEAT OF SOLUTION

Uy, Angelica A.*, Uson, Ma. Agatha Beatrice, Vargas, Louise Erika
3rd Year, Department of Chemistry

Abstract

The heat of the solution of the salt, KNO3, was successfully determined in the experiment.
The standardization of the solution calorimeter was done via the TRIS first before
proceeding to the experiment proper and from there calculations were made. The salt,
KNO3, gave a value for the enthalpy of dissolution of salt which is 17 489.24 Joules.

1. Introduction
T he enthalpy of solution or heat of
solution for any given solute is the energy
change that it encounters as one mole of this
solute is dissolved in water or a solvent at a
constant pressure, resulting to an infinite
dilution. [1] The enthalpy of solution is
widely expressed as kJ/mol at a constant
temperature, and the energy change is often
regarded to be of three different parts: (1) the
breaking of bonds within a solvent and a
solute via an endothermic process, (2) the
formation of attractive forces between the
solute and the solvent, (3) and the ideal
solution which has a null enthalpy of mixing.
[2] Non-ideal solutions otherwise are
regarded as an excess molar quantity.
As the solute encounters the process of
dissolving, it either releases or absorbs heat
in the form of energy. Recall that processes
which absorb heat are called endothermic,
and as the solute absorb heat from the water,
the water becomes cooler. Conversely, as the
solute releases heat to the water, the water
becomes warmer and this process is called
exothermic. [3]
In this experiment, a solution calorimeter was
used to measure the change in temperature of
the water during the process of dissolving the
solute. A known mass of potassium nitrate
and a known volume of water were used as
the starting points. From these procedures,
the heat of solution can then be calculated

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from the acquired data which are the After which, the instrument L2 was toggled
magnitude of the change in its temperature, to 0.05 as this standardization step is an
masses of both the solute and solvent, exothermic process.
specific heat of water, and calorimeter
B. Standardization of the Solution
constant. A supposition in calorimetry is that
Calorimeter
the change in the enthalpy of the substance
(∆Hsolute) is equal to the change of the
A 250 mL of 0.1 M HCl solution was initially
enthalpy of water (∆Hwater). [3][4] And so, a
prepared by weighing 98.0 g of HCl and
simplified formula for the calculation of the
diluting it to 250 mL in a 250 volumetric
change in the enthalpy of water is:
flask. From the preparation made, 100 mL
was transferred into a tared Dewar flask. The
∆𝐻𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 × ∆𝑇𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
weight and molecular weight of this solution
× 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
was noted.
Where: ∆𝐻𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = change in heat of water
Mass water = mass of the sample of water A Teflon sample dish was then tared and
∆𝑇 = change in temperature of the water 0.5197 g of TRIS was weighed with an
Specific heatwater = 0.004184 kJ/g  °C
accuracy of 0.0001 g. The sample dish was

2. Experimental then inserted into the glass cell which was

secured unto the calorimeter instrument with
A. Setting up of instrument parameters
a Teflon screw. After securing the cell, the

Warming of the solution calorimeter push rod was inserted followed by the

instrument was first performed for 20 attachment of the motor belt. After setting the

minutes. The unit was then set to an whole instrument, the motor was started from

exothermic run because the reagent used for the computer menu and the START button

the standardization of the calorimeter is was pressed. Once prompted by the computer

TRIS. The tolerance parameter was then the push rod, which was inserted earlier, was

attuned with the following sequence: pushed down. After a few minutes, the
solution calorimeter would give out a data of
Main Menu  Diagnostics  Calorimetric the net corrected temperature rise, ∆𝑇𝑐 , and
Parameters  Tolerance Parameter the initial temperature, ∆𝑇𝑖 .

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C. Heat of solution of the salt determination Table 1 Standardization of Solution Calorimeter by TRIS

TRIS (standard) 0.5197 g

The Dewar flask used from the Initial Temp. (°C) 25.3371 °C
standardization step was emptied and wiped
Jacket Temp. (°C) 21.5844 °C
clean with a lint free tissue paper. It was tared
once again and 100 mL of distilled water was Temp. Rise 0.2456

transferred into it. The weight of water, in

The temperature at 63% of the total rise in the
grams, was noted to be 98.9 g and was
thermogram was first determined. Where the
measured to an accuracy of 0.0001 g.
TRIS’ temperature at 63% is defined as the

The Teflon sample dish was tared and 1.0112 supplementary factor that it takes for it to

g of KNO3 was weighed into the dish using obtain a 63% of the total change after the time

an analytical balance. The sample dish was delay. This temperature is very important

then incorporated into the calorimeter because it differentiates the system’s

instrument with same procedure done in the dominant inertia against its alterations.

standardization step. The motor belt was then

Computations show that the molecular
again placed and the motor was started from
weight is 100.2007 g for the salt KNO3.
the computer menu. The START option was
Consequently, the temperature at 63% of the
then pressed and the once prompter by the
total rise in the thermogram was found out to
computer, the push rod was pushed down
be 0.155 for the initial temperature. From this
releasing the sample in the Dewar flask. The
T0.63R was computed and gave a value of
instrument then gives out a data of the net
25.4921°C. The next step is the calculation
corrected temperature rise, ∆𝑇𝑐 , and the
of the energy input, Q, in the standardization.
initial temperature, ∆𝑇𝑖 as in the
Where both the values 58.738 and 0.3433
standardization step.
were values obtained from the neutralization

3. Results and Discussion of heat from the TRIS and are treated as
constants. The calculated value for the energy
A. Standardization of Solution Calorimeter
input is 30.44 Joules. This value was then

The results obtained from the standardization utilized for the computation of the energy

step of the solution calorimeter is shown in equivalent of the calorimeter and its contents,

Table 1. and it gave a value of -61.86 J. After which,

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the calorimeter constant
standardization process, e’, was calculated.
This stage is very crucial and imperative
because this value will be utilized later in a
defining calculation. Upon calculation, the
value for e’ was found out to be -29 851.5681
J. Computations done to obtain all of these
values are shown in the appendix section of
the paper.
B. Determination of the Heat of Solution of
the salt
The treatment of results for the salt is of the
same series of steps with the standardization
of the TRIS. Meanwhile, the results obtained
from the experiment in the calorimeter of salt
is shown in Table 2. Where the initial
temperature, jacket temperature,
temperature rise are all given.
Table 2 Solution Calorimeter by the salt KNO3
KNO3
Initial Temp. (°C)
Jacket Temp. (°C)
Temp. Rise
The temperature at 63% of the total rise in the
thermogram was first determined. After
which, the calorimeter constant for the
determination of heat, e”, is calculated. The
in the calorimeter constant which was obtained in
the standardization process was inputted into
the equation of calorimeter constant for the
test run. The Q gave a value of -17 489.24 J.
Lastly, the enthalpy for the dissolution of salt,
was determine and gave a calculated value of
17 489.24 J.
4. Conclusion
The use of the solution calorimeter as a
means to measure the change in temperature
of the water during the process of dissolving
the solute was successfully employed. The
enthalpy of the salt, KNO3, was successfully
obtained from the calculations and it has a
value of 17 489.24 Joules.
5. References
and
[1] Pulse: Heat of Solution http://pulse.pha
rmacy.arizona.edu/resources/heatofsoluti
on.pdf (retrieved May 12, 2018)
1.0112 g [2] Atkins, P., de Paula, J. Physical
24.1470 °C Chemistry: Thermodynamics, Structure,
and Change, 10th edn. Oxford University
24.7425 °C Press: Great Britain, 2014.
0.4955 [3] Atkins, P., de Paula, J. Elements of
Physical Chemistry, 5th edn. Oxford
University Press: Great Britain, 2009.
[4] Guillory J. K. (2009). Book Review of
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and
Physics. 90th Edition. Journal of
Medicinal Chemistry, 52(17), 5560-5560.
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Appendix

A. Standardization of Solution Calorimeter

Temperature at 63% of the total rise in the thermogram

𝟗𝟗. 𝟔𝟖𝟏𝒈 + 𝟎. 𝟓𝟏𝟗𝟕𝒈 𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑺 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕𝒈 [Equation 1]

𝑇63% = 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 × 0.63

= 0.2456 × 0.63

= 0.155

𝑻𝟎.𝟔𝟑𝑹 = 𝑻𝟔𝟑% + 𝑻𝒊 [Equation 2]

= 0.155 + 25.3371°C

= 25.4921°𝐶

Energy, Q, liberated by TRIS

𝑸 = 𝒎𝒔𝒕𝒅 [𝟓𝟖. 𝟕𝟑𝟖 + 𝟎. 𝟑𝟒𝟑𝟑(𝟐𝟓 − 𝑻𝟎.𝟔𝟑𝑹 )] [Equation 3]

= 0.5197𝑔[58.738 + 0.3433(25 − 25.4921°𝐶)]

= 30.44 𝐽

Energy equivalent, e, in calories per °C of the calorimeter and its contents

𝑸
𝒆= [Equation 4]
∆𝑻𝑪

30.44 𝐽
=
25 − 25.4921°𝐶

= ­61.86 𝐽

Energy equivalent, e’, in calories per °C

𝒆′ = (𝒆)(𝒎𝒘 )(𝒔𝒑) [Equation 5]

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 = (­61.86 𝐽)(100.2007𝑔)(4.816 𝐽 𝑔­1 )

= ­29 851.5681 𝐽

B. Determination of Heat of Solution of the Salt

Temperature at 63% of the total rise in the thermogram

63% 𝐾𝑁𝑂3 = 𝑇𝑐 × 0.63

= 0.4955 × 0.63

= 0.3122

𝑻𝟎.𝟔𝟑𝑹 = 𝟔𝟑% 𝑲𝑵𝑶𝟑 + 𝑻𝒊 [Equation 6]

= 0.3122 + 24.2470°𝐶

= 24.5592°𝐶

Calorimeter constant for the test run, e’’

𝒆" = 𝒆′ + (𝒎𝒘 )(𝒔𝒑) [Equation 7]

= ­29 851.5681 𝐽 + (100.2007 𝑔)(4.816 𝐽 𝑔­1 )

= ­29 369.0015 𝐽

Energy change, Q

𝑸 = (∆𝑻𝒄 )(𝒆") [Equation 8]

= (24.7425 °𝐶 − 24.1470 °𝐶)(­29 369.0015 𝐽)

= ­17 489.24 𝐽

Enthalpy of dissolution of the salt, ∆𝐻𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑸
∆𝑯𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = − [Equation 9]
𝒏

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 ­17 489.24 𝐽
=−
1

= 17 489.24 𝐽

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