Oakridge International School Harshith Kompally

Class of 2015

Hess Law
Aim: To verify Hess law by determining the enthalpy of hydration of copper sulfate using a
calorimeter.

Background Information:
CuSO4 + 5H2O CuSO4.5H2O
The goal of this experiment is to determine the enthalpy change for the reaction mentioned
above.
Hess Law states that the enthalpy change for any chemical reaction is independent of the
route, provided the starting conditions and final conditions, and reactants and products, are
the same. Hence, the enthalpy of the reaction can be calculated by using the 2 other
pathways for the reaction. This means that the enthalpy of the reaction can be calculated
using the other pathways of the reaction, which includes two other reactions:
1. CuSO4 (s) + H2O (l) CuSO4 (aq)
2. CuSO45H2O + H2O (l) CuSO4 (aq)

Apparatus Required:
1. 4.00 g of CuSO4 (s)
2. 6.25 g of CuSO4.5H2O (s)
3. 1 Dry Stoppered Weighing Bottle
4. 49 mL of Distilled Water
5. 2 Polystyrene Cup Calorimeters
6. 1 Thermometer
7. 1 Measuring Cylinder
8. 1 Electronic Balance
Oakridge International School Harshith Kompally
Class of 2015

Data Collection and Processing

Trial 1 Trial 2
Initial Final Initial Final
Temperature / C Temperature / C Temperature / C Temperature / C
CuSO4 27 45 27 44
CuSO4.H2O 27 27 27 26.5

For this experiment, 25 mL of water was added to the anhydrous Copper Sulfate and 24 mL
of water was added to the Hydrated Copper Sulfate. Initial and final temperatures were
then taken and recorded in the table above.
To calculate the enthalpy change, = T can be used.
= T Where Q = heat produced, M = mass of the system, C = specific heat capacity of
water, and T = change in temperature
Enthalpy of Copper Sulfate:
Using = T , we can determine it for both the CuSO4 trials:
1 = 29 4.18 18 = 2181.97
2 = 29 4.18 17 = 2060.74
Average of Q1 and Q2= 2121.35 J.
Number of moles of CuSO4=0.025
2121.35
Enthalpy change (H) for CuSO4 (s) + H2O (l) CuSO4 (aq) = = 84.854 1
0.025

Enthalpy of Hydrated Copper Sulfate:

To calculate this, we must repeat the calculations for anhydrous Copper Sulfate.
Using = T , we can determine that for the first hydrous CuSO4 trial:
But since there was no change in temperature, the overall heat evolved from the system is:
= 30.25 4.18 0 = 0 J
Therefore, the enthalpy of the reaction between hydrated Copper Sulfate and water is also
0 kJ mol-1.
To find the total enthalpy value for the reaction, both the calculated enthalpy values must
be added, so H (CuSO4 + 5H2O = CuSO4.5H2O) = -84.854 + 0 = -84.854 kJ mol-1
Oakridge International School Harshith Kompally
Class of 2015

Conclusion and Evaluation

Total Enthalpy value for the reaction: -84.854 kJ mol-1.
Literature Value for this experiment -78.2 kJ mol-1.
Hence, Percentage Error for this experiment:
Theoretical Value + Experimental Value
Theoretical Value 100

84.854 + 78.200
= 8.509
78.200
% error for this experiment = 8.509 %

During conducting the experiment, the readings while collecting the amount of water might
not have been taken at the meniscus, hence causing more water to be collected and having
a negative effect on the heat created. Also heat might have been absorbed by the
polystyrene cup resulting in a lower temperature of the reaction being recorded.
To minimize these errors, repeating the experiment multiple times as well as taking the
average readings would help, further reducing the possibility of random errors in the
experiment.

The uncertainties of the measuring apparatus are as follows:

1. Measuring Cylinder:
a. Absolute Uncertainty: 0.25 mL
b. Percentage Uncertainty:
i. For 25 mL: (0.25 / 25) 100 = 1.00%
ii. For 24 mL: (0.25 / 24) 100 = 1.04%
2. Electronic Balance:
a. Absolute Uncertainty: 0.01 g
b. Percentage Uncertainty:
i. For 4 g: (0.01 / 4) 100 = 0.25%
ii. For 6.25 g: (0.01 / 6.25) 100 = 0.16%
3. Thermometer:
a. Absolute Uncertainty: 0.5C
b. Percentage Uncertainty: (0.5 / 18) 100 = 2.78%