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HESS LAW

Luis Gutierrez 11/14/13

Dr. Chakravarty Chemistry 125

HESS LAW
Date of experiment: Friday November 8, 2013 Name: Luis Gutierrez; November 15, 2013 Partner: Sandy Anya

Introduction
In this lab, the change in enthalpy will be determined for the following equation: 2Mg + O2 2MgO, but in an indirect manner. Magnesium metal burns with a bright extremely hot flame to produce magnesium oxide. It would be difficult to measure the heat of the reaction since the reaction is rapid and occurs at a high temperature So, to determine the change in enthalpy we will employ Hesss Law H for a reaction is the same whether it occurs directly or as a series of steps. We will perform the two following reactions: Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2 and MgO + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2O, determine their enthalpy changes (Hs) experimentally, and they will then be added to that of a given equation, the combustion of water, H2 + 1/2 O2 H2O H = 285.5 kJ/mol. Hypothesis If Hesss law is used to calculate the molar enthalpy of combustion for magnesium using experimentally determined enthalpy values, then the final result will be accurate and near to the accepted value. This is because Hesss

law states that the sum of the enthalpy pages of the intermediate reactions, should equal the enthalpy change of the target reaction. Precaution In this investigation we will be working with potentially dangerous chemicals and safety precautions must be taken. Magnesium oxide is a respiratory and eye irritant, the dust must not be inhaled and all work with MgO should be conducted in the fume hood. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is extremely corrosive, inhalation of the vapor can cause serious injury, ingestion could be fatal, and the liquid can cause sever damage to the skin and eyes; when working with HCl splash goggles and gloves must be worn.

Procedure
The experiment consists of the use oh Hess Law: Set a computer station using the software Launch Data Studio ( graphs) Get a 400 mL beaker and nest a foam cup on it Put a magnetic stick inside the cup for the calorimeter Set a ring stand Fill the cup with 100 mL of 1.0 M HCL .7 g of magnesium oxide .6 g of magnesium metal Cover the cup and stir it on the hot plate Record the data on the computer (graph)

Reactions:
MgO + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2O Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2 H2 + 1/2O2 H2O

Calculations: qrx = rxn -------- constant pressure. qrx = -qCalorimeter ---------- if the calorimeter absorbs heat, the reaction gives off heat. qCalorimeter = C calorimeter T calorimeter.

Sources of error:
There may be a low percent of error in both trials because of some spill of the substances of the liquid in the process of titration. Reasons why total percentage may have differed from 100% could also be human error in calculations. Some causes are as follow: 1.Not covering the calorimeter during the heat transfer. 2. Not stirring the liquids throughout the whole heat transfer. 3. Accidentally touching the temperature probe to the hot metal. 4. Overall inaccuracy of the heat transferred from using a foam cup calorimeter.

Conclusion:
The purpose of this lab was to determine the molar enthalpy of the combustion of magnesium using experimental values from reactions between magnesium and magnesium oxide in hydrochloric acid solution. The calculated molar enthalpy of

the combustion of magnesium from this experiment was

23.75 KJ/mol. This

result was determined by immersing a known mass of magnesium metal as well as magnesium oxide powder into a known volume and concentration of HCl Knowing the initial temperature of the solution, the final temperature was measured and the change in temperature was calculated. The heat transfer between the reactant and the solution was calculated using the equation q=mcT. The energy value also represents the enthalpy change of the reaction which is H = -q. Finally the known mass of the reactant was converted to moles to be used in the equation H = H / n. Once the enthalpy changes of the reference equations were calculated, Hesss law was used in order to calculate the enthalpy change of the equation for the combustion of magnesium.

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