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Edexcel GCE

Chemistry
Advanced A2C4 Finding the activation energy of a reaction

Total Marks

For teachers use only

/14

Category Specification topics Activity Materials allowed

Physical Chemistry Unit 4 Topic 4.3 How fast? rates Activity c Quantitative measurement Student brief, graph paper, calculator, writing materials, apparatus and chemicals supplied. No books, notes or the User Guide are allowed.

Conditions Time allowed Health and safety

Students work individually under supervision. Written results must be handed in at the end of the session. One hour of laboratory time plus time to draw the graph and calculate the results. Eye protection and laboratory coats should be worn throughout the exercise. Sulfur dioxide gas will be evolved in this exercise. You must act on any warnings about this gas given by your teacher. Follow any other safety precautions given by the teacher. The normal Health and Safety rules of the Chemistry Department must be followed.

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W37596A
2009 Edexcel Limited.

*W37596A*

5/3/1/

Student brief
In this exercise you will mix solutions of hydrochloric acid and sodium thiosulfate at different temperatures. A reaction takes place in which a precipitate of sulfur is formed. You will record the time from mixing to a point at which the reaction mixture is too cloudy to allow a spot to be seen through it. You will be assessed on your laboratory skills in measuring the volumes of the solutions, heating them up to a steady temperature, measuring the temperature, mixing the solutions and judging when the spot can no longer be seen. Marks will also be awarded for your ability to use your results to draw and use a graph to calculate a value for the activation energy of the reaction. Information You are supplied with Aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid and sodium thiosulfate. The apparatus needed to carry out the exercise. The equation for the reaction is S2O32(aq) + 2H+(aq) SO2(g) + S(s) + H2O(l)

Procedure 1. Label two boiling tubes A and B. Mark a dark spot on the side of a 400 cm3 beaker, then fill it half full of water. Clamp tube A and immerse it in the water bath as shown in the diagram. 2. Using a measuring cylinder, transfer 10 cm3 of sodium thiosulfate solution to tube A. 3. Using a clean measuring cylinder, transfer 10 cm3 of hydrochloric acid to tube B and place the tube in the beaker of water. 4. Allow both solutions to reach thermal equilibrium with the water in the beaker for a few minutes. 5. Add the solution from tube B to that in tube A, starting a timer as you do so. Mix the solution in A by gently stirring with a thermometer. Read the temperature to the nearest degree and record it in Table 1. 6. Observe the spot on the side of the beaker by looking at it through the solution in A. Record, in Table 1, the time, in seconds, at which the spot can no longer be seen due to it becoming obscured by the sulfur precipitate formed in A. 7. Dispose of the mixture in tube A as instructed by your teacher. Then rinse it out and wash and dry the thermometer. 8. Using a Bunsen burner to gently heat the water bath, repeat steps 2 to 7 until you have five sets of results at five different temperatures. One should be at room temperature and four between room temperature and about 50 C. Try to make sure that the temperatures are reasonably evenly spread across the range. Record the temperatures and times in Table 1. Clamp

Boiling tube A containing reagents

Eye

Dark spot

Water bath Diagram

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Graph and calculations Temperature /C Temperature (T) / K 1/T / K1 Time (t) / s 1/Time (1/t) / s1 ln (1/t)

Table 1 (4) (a) Complete the table by calculating the temperatures in Kelvin, the reciprocals of the temperatures and times and the ln of the reciprocals of the times. (2) (b) Plot a graph of ln (1/t) on the y axis against 1/T on the x axis. Join your points with a straight line of best fit. (2) (c) Calculate the gradient of the graph. Show your working on the graph. (1) Gradient
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(d) Using the equation given below, and the value of your gradient, calculate the value of the activation energy, EA. Give your answer to two significant figures. Include units and a sign with your answer. (4) E 1 ln = A + constant RT t where R is the gas constant (8.3 J mol1 K1).

(e) Describe one cause of possible error in the exercise. (1)

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Total Marks

/14

BLANK PAGE

A2C4 Finding the activation energy of a reaction Mark scheme Activity c 1 2 3 4 5 Quantitative measurement 1 mark 1 mark 1 mark 1 marks 2 marks

Table 1 Records five times in seconds Table 1 Records five temperatures. Ignore decimal points. Table 1 No two temperatures are closer than 4C Table 1 Decrease in time as temperature increases (a) Converts temperatures to Kelvin and 1/T (1) Converts times to 1/time and ln (1/t) (1)

(b) Graph Labelled axis (1 / T / K-1 and ln 1/t). Sensible scales (graph must cover at least half of the graph paper in each direction) All five points correctly plotted. Accuracy of point plotting to be within limits of accuracy of grid (1) Points joined by line of best fit Straight line At least four points cluster around line of best fit (1) 2 marks

(c) Gradient correctly calculated Ignore units

1 mark

(d) EA : calculated correctly (1) Positive sign, to 2sf and units of kJ mol-1 or J mol-1 if follows working (1) Accuracy Data book value = (+) 47 kJ mol-1 5 kJ mol-1 (2) 15 kJ mol-1 (1) 4 marks

(e) Exact time of mixing may be uncertain / timing disappearance of spot may be inconsistent / 1/time is only approximately proportional to the (initial) rate, as the concentration of reactant and hence the rate will have changed slightly during the experiment / other sensible reason

1 mark

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A2C4

Finding the activation energy of a reaction

Technicians notes Apparatus 2 boiling tubes 400 cm3 beaker Marker pen Stand and clamp Timer Bunsen burner, tripod and gauze 0 to 100 C thermometer Two 10 cm3 measuring cylinders Access to fume cupboard Materials Each student will need: 60 cm3 of aqueous sodium thiosulfate; concentration approximately 0.10 mol dm3 60 cm3 of aqueous hydrochloric acid; concentration approximately 0.10 mol dm3 A4 graph paper Note This exercise should be able to be completed in about one hour of laboratory time. If it is not possible to complete the graph and calculations in this time, then all written materials should be collected in and re-issued at the start of a later session. Sulfur dioxide will be evolved during the reaction. At the higher temperatures the solubility of sulfur dioxide decreases so increasing amounts will be evolved as the exercise proceeds. A full risk assessment must be consulted before starting this exercise. Students with known breathing difficulties must not be exposed to the gas since it may trigger an asthma attack. Students should dispose of their reaction mixtures in a fume cupboard sink. BEST ADVICE Immediately a run is finished, greatly dilute with water and then wash to waste in a fume cupboard to minimize the amount of sulfur dioxide escaping. Do not heat the solutions above 50 C.