A chemistry team wishes to measure the enthalpy of neutralization for the reaction between aqueous HCl and aqueous NaOH at 25∘C. Their calorimeter has an experimentally determined heat capacity of 134JK−1. The team mixes 50.00mL of 1.500M HCl with 50.00mL of 1.500M NaOH, both initially at 25.12∘C. The highest temperature reached is 28.47∘C. Assume the density of each solution is 1.00gmL−1, the solutions’ specific heat capacities equal that of water, and that volumes are additive.
Parts:
(a) Determine the total quantity of heat released in the neutralization reaction.
(b) Calculate the molar enthalpy of neutralization for this acid–base pair.
(c) Compare the value you obtained in part (b) with the accepted value and propose one plausible experimental factor, other than heat loss through the calorimeter walls, that could account for any deviation.