THE CALIBRATION OF THE CALORIMETER AND

THE HEAT OF NEUTRALIZATION

Submitted by: Arnel S. Ardemer

Submitted to: Prof. Gloria Jesusa D. Baltazar

Chemistry 72 (Laboratory)

18 March 2013

THE CALIBRATION OF THE CALORIMETER AND

THE HEAT OF NEUTRALIZATION
Arnel S. Ardemer

I. Introduction

Matter and its basic component, the atoms are materials that served as banks of
energy. In everything that exists consist of energy that is somewhat hidden until they are
observed especially when an object undergoes a certain change. Whenever matter changes,
whether chemically or physically, the energy content of the matter also changes 1. Every
chemical change is accompanied by change in chemical energy, mostly observed in a form
of heat. Modern atomic theory allows everyone to consider other forms of energy solar,
electrical, nuclear, and chemical as examples of potential and kinetic energy on the atomic
and molecular scales. No matter what the details of the situation, when a certain reaction
occurs, the effect could be visibly observed by changes in heat energy. Acids and bases have
been used as laboratory time of the alchemists, and they remain indispensable not only in
academic and industrial labs, but in the home as well. And it was also observed that when an
acid and a base are mixed, a quantity of heat is produced. Moreover, it was known that when
acids and bases react, each cancels the properties of the other in a process called
neutralization1. Neutralization mainly involves the production of water.
The concept behind the fact that there are ways how to measure the quantity of heat
being released in a certain reaction, or to say, heat released by the system at a constant given
pressure made a great contribution in estimation, especially in the industries, on predicting

the amount of heat to be released or absorbed by a particular reaction (whether would it be

endothermic or exothermic, if the latter is so, then would the heat released be a great thing to
take deal with, especially its effect in the environment), developed the thought of
thermochemistry the study of enthalpy changes in chemical processes 2. The experiment
was made to have the investigation, using the direct calorimetry method on which the
reaction is to be ensured to occur to completion without side reactions.
The experiment mainly focused on the heat of neutralization of acids and bases,
particularly NaOH as the base and HCl and CH 3COOH as the acids used. Thus, the
experiment was done with the following objectives: (1) to measure the heat of neutralization
of a particular neutralization reaction; (2) to appreciate the concept behind the exothermic
nature of neutralization reaction; (3) to determine the enthalpy change undergone by the
neutralization of acid and base to form a certain amount of water; (4) to distinguish the
enthalpy of neutralization when a weak acid or a strong acid is used; and (5) to calibrate a
simple calorimeter. In this experiment, the overall significance is to verify the amount of
heat released as a neutralization process occurs to form a mole of water and appreciate its
concept in relation with daily life and additional understanding towards the behavior of
matter and its changes.

II. Theoretical Background

Acids and bases have their nature in common. Chemically speaking, the Arrhenius
definition of acids and bases fits this nature on which when they are mixed produces its
common product, water. When an acid and a base react, they undergo neutralization. The
meaning of acid-base reactions has changed along with the definitions of acid and base, but
in the Arrhenius sense, neutralization occurs when the H+ ion from the acid and the OH- ion
from the base combine to form H2O1. As the definition goes, the combination of H + and the
OH species in the dissociated acids and bases, respectively thermodynamically produce a
certain amount of heat which produced upon the combination of the two to form water,
which could be measured quantitatively. Direct calorimetry is the method on which one
could measure especially at constant pressure, the enthalpy of neutralization of a particular
acid and base reaction.

A calorimeter is a device being used for centuries up to the present in determining

the heat being released or absorbed by a particular reaction. A calorimeter is a closed
container designed specifically for measurement of heat changes on a chemical system 4. The
key towards understanding the concepts of calorimetry depends in the appreciation on
specific heat and heat capacity. The specific heat (c) of a substance is the amount of heat
required to raise the temperature of one gram of the substance by one degree Celsius. It has
the units J/gC. The heat capacity (C) of a substance is the amount of heat required to raise
the temperature of a given quantity of the substance by one degree Celsius. Its unit is J/C.

Specific heat is an intensive property whereas heat capacity is an extensive property. These
factors served very important towards understanding the nature of heat of neutralization.
Heat (q) could be measured in terms of determining the mass of the object, its specific heat
and the change of temperature it undergone; or to say, with the sense of heat capacity, when
heat capacity is known together with the change of temperature, the amount of heat could be
measured. The equations for these definitions are shown by equations 1 and 2.
q = mcT

where m= mass of the object

c = specific heat of the object
T = change in temperature (Tf Ti)

equation 1

q= CT

where C= heat capacity of the certain mass of the object

T = change in temperature (Tf Ti)
equation 2

The unit of heat is either in calories or in Joules. But conventions suggest the utilization of
the unit Joule in dealing with heat. The experiment used a constant pressure calorimeter
which is simpler compared to constant volume calorimeter. Since the pressure in constant,
thus the heat changes being measured would be equal to the enthalpy changes (q.

Heat changes in the neutralization reaction vary mainly on the strength of the acids
used. Earlier studies observed that all neutralization reactions between strong acids and
strong bases (those that dissociate completely in water) had the same heat of reaction. No
matter which strong acid and base reacted, and no matter which salt formed, H was about
-56.2 kJ per mole of water formed. Arrhenius suggested that the heat of reaction was always
the same because the actual reaction was always the same a hydrogen ion and a hydroxide
ion formed water:

H+(aq) + OH-(aq)

H2O(l)

rH = -56.2 kJ/mol

equation 3

Thus for any reaction that involves the presence of strong acids and bases would yield the
same heat of reaction. On the other hand, when a weak acid or a weak base is involved, the
heat of reaction is lower than in equation 3 this is because weak acids and bases do not
dissociate fully on water, not giving its overall H+ and/or OH- in the solution. Thus only
fewer of these species react to form water.

III. Methodology

The experiment was performed using the following apparatuses, materials and
reagents: apparatuses involved the thermometer, iron ring, iron stand, wire gauze, alcohol
lamp, thermometer holder, volumetric flask, pipette and aspirator, and graduated cylinder.
Materials involved are: polystyrene (styrofoam) cup (2 pieces) polystyrene board (for
calorimeter lid), plastic ring, wooden stick, and cutter. Chemicals involved 1.0 M HCl, 1.0
M NaOH, 1.0 M CH3COOH, and distilled water.

The experiment was started by making a simple calorimeter out of polystyrene

cups. Two polystyrene cups were fused together to form a one double layered cup that is
intended to maximize the insulation and isolation of heat. A lid cover was made of
polystyrene board. A circular canal was made on the board in order for the mouth of the cup

to fit in. Two holes were made on the board intended for the thermometer and the other for
the wooden stirrer made of wood and plastic ring. Before the heat of neutralization
experiment was performed, the constructed simple calorimeter was calibrated first, to
determine its heat capacity. Fifty milliliters of water, with the temperature of 28C, the same
with the room temperature was placed in the calorimeter. Another 50 mL of water was
heated up to 56C. Both temperatures were noted and the hot water was poured into the
calorimeter, noting the temperature of the mixture every 15 seconds for 3 minutes. The
temperatures were recorded and were used to calculate the C cal, the heat capacity of the
calorimeter. Calibration was done for three trials and taken its mean as the heat capacity of
the calorimeter. As the heat capacity was already obtained, the heat of neutralization was
performed. Using the volumetric flask, pipette and aspirator and distilled water, 500 mL
each 1.0 M of NaOH, 1.0 M of HCl and 1.0 M of CH 3COOH was prepared. These
chemicals where then used for the experiment. First done was the neutralization between
HCl and NaOH. Noting that all the chemicals must have equal temperature ( in thermal
equilibrium) with the surroundings, the experiment was performed. Fifty milliliters of NaOH
was placed on the clean dry calorimeter. After few minutes, the temperature was measured
and served as the initial temperature. A 50 mL of the prepared 0.1 M HCl was poured into
the calorimeter and the calorimeter was covered and stirred with the built-in stirrer and the
temperature was obtained every 15 seconds for three minutes. The temperature of the
mixture was then obtained and was recorded. Another setup was performed. But the
difference was that the HCL was replaced with acetic acid, a weak acid and the procedures
were followed as it was in the HCl-NaOH neutralization.

IV. Results

The experiment on heat of neutralization gathered the following results. In the

calibration of the calorimeter, the results were presented on table 1.

Table 1: the Calibration of the Calorimeter

TRIAL 1

TRIAL 2

TRIAL 3

Vcold water
Vhot water
mcold water
mhot water

50 mL
50 mL
50 g
50 g

50 mL
50 mL
50 g
50 g

50 mL
50 mL
50 g
50 g

Tcold water (Tc)

28 C

28 C

28 C

Thot water (TH)

56 C

56 C

56 C

Time (s)

Tmixture (TM)

Tmixture (TM)

Tmixture (TM)

15
30
45
60
75
90
105
120
135
150
165
180

C
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
16 C

C
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
16C

C
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
41
15C

Calculated Ccal = 15.28 cal/ C

Table 1 showed the mass, the volume and the various temperatures of water being used and
the 180 second tally was the monitor of the temperature of 3 minutes. The T was then
measured form the maximum temperature minus the initial, room temperature. The mass of

water was assumed to be the same as its volume, assuming that the density is 1g/mL. Using
the calculated heat capacity of the calorimeter, the heat of neutralization setup was
performed. And the results are shown in table 2:

Table 2: heat of neutralization (NaOH-HCl reaction)

Room temp
VNaOH
VHCl
TNaOH
THCl

28C
50 mL
50 mL
28C
28C

Time (s)
15
30
45
60
75
90
105
120
135
150
165
180
T
Calculated heat of

TM (C)
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
6
-57.8 kJ/mol

neutralization
% error

4.5 %

In the experiment, all liquid solutions were assumed to have density of 1g/mL. table
2 showed the result of the experiment in the heat of neutralization of NaOH and HCl
reaction. The reaction had a change in temperature of 6C and arrived using respective
calculation to the calculated heat of neutralization to be 57.8 kJ/mol.
On the other setup, the heat of neutralization between the reaction of sodium
hydroxide and acetic acid is shown on table 3.

Table 3: heat of neutralization (NaOH-CH3COOH)

Room temp
VNaOH
V CH3COOH
TNaOH
T CH3COOH

28C
50 mL
50 mL
28C
28C

Time (s)
15
30
45
60
75
90
105
120
135
150
165
180
T
Calculated heat of

TM (C)
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
34
6
-57.8 kJ/mol

netralization
% error

4.5 %

The procedures on the earlier neutralization reaction setup were followed on the latter, only
that the acid used is a weak acid, acetic acid.

V. Discussion

The basic principle that governs the experiment is the conservation of energy on
which the heat lost by the system will always be equal to the heat gained by the surrounding
or another system. Another one is that the neutralization of an acid and a base produces
water and its side product as heat. Thus upon formation water in the neutralization, heat is
also released. These concepts led to the objective of this experiment to experimentally

measure the heat of neutralization of a particular neutralization reaction and compare it to

the theoretical values established by the literatures.

The calibration of the simple calorimeter was the initial step done towards measuring
the heat of neutralization of a particular reaction. It was in here that one should determine
how much heat could be absorbed by the calorimeter. It is expected that the calorimeter
would absorb an amount of heat so it must be determined so that the heat it absorbed would
be added to the calculation of the overall heat involved in the reaction. Provided with the
concept that energy is conserved, a formula derived (equation 4) was used for the calibration
of the calorimeter, that is, to determine its heat capacity.

Using the derived equation and the data gathered during the experiment, the heat capacity of
the calorimeter was measured. A sample calculation is shown on illustration 1.

Illustration 1: the calculation of trials 1 and 2.

The calculations shown in illustration 1 are the calculations for trial 1 and 2. Trial 3 was
calculated on the same manner. Trial 1 and 2 have 16.67 cal/C and trial 3 has 15.20 cal/C.
Taking the mean of the three trials, the average heat capacity of the calorimeter was found to
be 15.28 cal/C. The mean heat capacity of the calorimeter was the one used in the
succeeding experiment on heat of neutralization.

The heat of neutralization experiment was performed using a pair of a strong acid
and a strong base and the other one was a pair of weak acid and a strong base. The strong
base used was NaOH (1.0 M) and the strong acid used was HCl (1.0 M). The weak acid used
on the second setup was CH3COOH (1.0 M). The experiment started with the heat of
neutralization of NaOH-HCl neutralization reaction. The results presented in table 2 showed
the information needed to experimentally determine and calculate the heat of neutralization
of the particular exothermic reaction, that is the amount of heat released when an acid and a

base reacts to form water. Stoichiometrically determined, the amount of water produced in
the reaction of 50 mL each of HCl and NaOH is found to be 0.05 moles. Thus the heat
calculated was divided with 0.05 moles and obtained the enthalpy of reaction per mole of
water formed. Illustration 2 showed the calculation for determining the heat of neutralization
of the acid-base reaction.

llustration 2: calculation of the heat of neutralization of HCl-NaOH reaction

Illustration 2 showed the calculated HCl-NaOH heat of neutralization to be 57.8

kJ/mol. In the literatures, the theoretical value of this neutralization is found to be 56.2
kJ/mol 3. Thus the experiment had 4.5% error.

On the other setup where the acid used was a weak acid, acetic acid instead of
hydrochloric acid was performed using the same procedure and the heat of neutralization

was calculated using the same process as shown in illustration 2. The experiments
calculated heat of neutralization based on the data on table 3 was 57.8 kJ/mol. Literature
mentioned the heat of neutralization of acetic acid sodium hydroxide reaction to be 55.43
kJ/mol 4. Thus the error of the experiment was found to be 4.4%.

Some of the errors of the experiment were too visible and could be traced in many
ways. First to consider was the heat of neutralization of acetic acid should be lesser than that
of the HCl-NaOH reaction due to the fact that weak acids tend not to dissociate fully in
water and thus fewer H+ ions would react to form water. This may be the result of error in
preparation of the solutions. This might be because the amount of acids and bases are higher
that they produced greater amount of heat. General errors in the experiment could be traced
as mistakes in thermometer readings due to the poor precision of the thermometer used (1).
The value of the calculated heat capacity of the calorimeter might be higher than the actual
that in return, would give a higher value of heat of neutralization. The prepared solutions
might also be the factors. They were not standardized, thus if there would be higher amount
of acids and base present in the substance than the recorded concentration would give larger
amount of heat produced.

VI. Conclusion and Recommendation

The experiment on the determination of heat of neutralization on two setups of acid

base reactions were the important tools towards the higher appreciation and understanding
of the concepts of enthalpy changes in the systems as they would undergo some certain
reactions. The experimental measurement of the heat of neutralization with lesser errors in
the experiment gave way to appreciate that there really is a certain quantity of heat being
produced in the neutralization reactions. The enthalpy differences between strong acidstrong base and weak acid-weak base reactions were not that appreciated because of some
certain errors but the concept behind them were well understood.
As the experiment is to be performed for the next time, it is recommended that the
standardization of the solutions to be used is done and the thermometer to be used must be
as precise as possible. The calorimeter might be improved by using an ultra thick
polystyrene cup to ensure that there should be no heat lost to the environment.

VII. References
1. SILBERBERG, M. 2006. Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and

Change, 4th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill.

2. LAIDLER, K.J. and J.H. MEISER.1999. Physical Chemistry. 3rd ed. United States
of America: Houghton Mifflin Co.
3. CHANG, R. 2007. Chemistry, 10th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill.
4. SILBERBERG, M. (2013). Principles of General Chemistry, 3rd ed. New York,
USA: McGraw-Hill.