Temperature Change/Calorimetry Lab
Chemistry Challenge: Can you determine if the temperature increases or decreases in a
chemical reaction? Can you calculate the amount of heat released/gained by chemical
compound or reaction?
Materials:
 Goggles
 Citric Acid
 Sodium bicarbonate
 Calcium chloride
 Water—tap water is fine
 Graduated cylinder
 Thermometer
 2 small spoons
 2 small Styrofoam cups
Procedure:
1. Assemble the calorimeter as follows:
a. Take a Styrofoam cup and insert another Styrofoam inside the cup.
b. Cover the calorimeter with a cardboard lid and place the thermometer
inside the hole in the lid.
c. Obtain the mass of the empty cylinder.
Part I:
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure 20ml of water and place it into the
calorimeter.
3. Record the mass of the calorimeter and the water solution.
4. Place 2 small spoonful of citric acid into the Styrofoam cup. Stir the solution until
the citric acid dissolves.
5. Place a thermometer in the “citric acid” solution and record the temperature as the
“initial temperature.” Keep the thermometer in the solution.
6. Add 1 spoonful of sodium bicarbonate to the solution and stir the solution. Record
the highest or lowest temperature as the “final temperature.”
7. Place the solutions down the drain with plenty of water. Solid waste can be
disposed of in the trashcan. Be sure to completely dry the calorimeter.
Part II:
8. Measure 20 ml of water using a graduated cylinder and place the water into the
calorimeter. Obtain the mass of the empty calorimeter
9. Record the mass of the calorimeter plus the water solution.
10. Place 2 small spoonfuls of sodium bicarbonate into the cup and stir until the
compound has completely dissolved.
11. Place a thermometer in the “sodium carbonate” solution (be sure the thermometer
is clean and dry) and record the temperature as the “initial temperature.” Leave
the thermometer in the solution.
12. Place 1 spoonful of calcium chloride into the solution and stir. Record the
highest/lowest temperature reached as the “final temperature.”
13. Place the solutions down the drain with plenty of water. Solid waste can be
disposed of in the trashcan. Be sure to completely dry the calorimeter.
Part III:
14. Measure 20ml of water using a graduated cylinder and place the water in the
calorimeter. Obtain the mass of the empty calorimeter.
11. Record the initial temperature of the water using your thermometer.
12. Place 2 small spoonfuls of calcium chloride into the calorimeter and stir. Record
the highest or lowest temperature reached as the “final temperature” in the fourth
column.
15. Clean your lab area and WASH YOUR HANDS!
Chemical
Reaction
Citric acid + sodium
bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate +
calcium chloride
Calcium chloride +
Water
Mass of empty
calorimeter
Mass of
calorimeter +
water solution
Starting
Temperature
(C)
Final
Temperature
(C)
Difference in
Temperature
Did the
temperature go
up or down?
Is the chemical
reaction
exothermic or
endothermic?
Questions:
1. List your observations.
2. Calculate the enthalpy of the reaction between calcium chloride and water. (q=
smT, use the specific heat of water and the mass of the water solution)