When 50.0 mL of 1.27 M of HCl(aq) is combined with 50.0 mL of 1.32 M of NaOH(aq) in a coffee-cup calorimeter, the temperature of the solution increases by 8.49°C. What is the change in enthalpy for this balanced reaction? HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) Assume that the solution density is 1.00 g/mL and the specific heat capacity of the solution is 4.18 J/g⋅°C. Hint: You need to determine the limiting reagent.

-55.9kJ/mol is the change in enthalpy of the reaction

Explanation:

In the reaction:

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H₂O(l) + NaCl

Some heat is released per mole of reaction.

To know how many moles reacts we need to find limiting reactant:

Moles HCl = 0.050L ₓ (1.27mol /  L) = 0.0635 moles HCl

Moles NaOH = 0.050L ₓ (1.32mol /  L) = 0.066 moles NaOH

As there are more moles of NaOH than moles of HCl, HCl is limiting reactant and moles of reaction are moles of limiting reactant, 0.0635 moles

Using the coffee-cup calorimeter equation we can find how many heat was released thus:

Q = C×m×ΔT

Where Q is heat released, C is specific heat of the solution (4.18J/g°C), m is mass of solution (100g because there are 100mL of solution -50.0mL of HCl and 50.0mL of NaOH- and density is 1g/mL) and ΔT is change in temperature (8.49°C)

Replacing:

Q = 4.18J/g°C×100g×8.49°C

Q = 3548.8J of heat are released in the reaction

Now, change in enthalpy, ΔH, is equal to change in heat (As is released heat ΔH < 0) per mole of reaction, that is:

ΔH = Heat / mol of reaction

ΔH = -3548.8J / 0.0635 moles of reaction

Negative because is released heat.

ΔH = -55887J / mol

ΔH =

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