Understanding and Avoiding Errors in a Heat of Reaction Experiment

[Sassenav22]

PART A: Heat of Solution of Solid NaOH
1. Measure 100mL of distilled water into a graduated cylinder. Pour the water into a clean, dry beaker and allow it to stand until it
reaches the room temperature.
2. Using a spatula weigh exactly 2.00 g of sodium hydroxide.
3. Measure the temperature of the water in the beaker. Record this as Ti in Part A of the data table.
4. Add the solid NaOH to the water in the beaker. Use the thermometer to stir the mixture until all the NaOH has dissolved
temperature stops rising. Record the highest temperature as Tf in Part A of the data table.
5. Discard the solution. Rinse off the thermometer and dry the beaker.
PART B: Heat of Neutralization of HCl and NaOH Solutions
6. Measure 50.0mL of 1M HCl and pour it into the beaker. Allow the acid to stand until it reaches the room temperature. Record
this temperature as Ti in Part B of the data table.
7. Add exactly 50.0mL of 1M NaOH solution to HCl solution. Stir with the thermometer and record the highest temperature as Tf in
Part B of the data table.
8. Discard the solution. Rinse off the thermometer and dry the beaker.
PART C: Heat of solution of solid NaOH
9. Measure 100mL of 0.5M HCl and pour it into the beaker. Handle this acid carefully. Allow it to stand until it reaches the room
temperature.
10. Using a spatula weigh exactly 2.00 g of sodium hydroxide.
11. Measure the temperature of the acid in the beaker. Record this as Ti in Part C of the data table.
12. Add the solid NaOH to the acid and stir the mixture with the thermometer. Record the highest temperature as Tf in Part C of the
data table








what are some possible errors in a heat of reaction experiment?

 

[Borek]

You just don't ask. You try, you tell us what you did, we push you in the right direction.

 

[Sassenav22]

I did everything that is said above.

 

[Borek]

But you have not listed a single source of error. You must have some ideas.

 

[Sassenav22]

oh
the thermometer reading may have being read incorrectly.
some heat was lost to the environment because the beaker does not contain the heat and
heat was lost during stirring of solution with the thermometer.