Enthalpy changes on displacement and the reactivity series

* Stop watch.

* Polystyrene lid to put on top of beaker (with 2 holes for thermometer & stirring rod).

* Lagging jacket (made from polystyrene) insulation around beaker.

* Stirring rod.

Method:

Add 50cm³ of copper sulphate solution into beaker. Cover the beaker with lagging jacket insulation and put the polystyrene lid on top of the beaker, a thermometer and a stirring rod through the lid into the solution. Record the initial temperature of the solution. Then weigh a strip of zinc on the weighing scale and record the weight of the strip. Use a tong to carry the zinc to the beaker, take the lid off along with the thermometer and stirring rod, drop the strip into the solution, and put back the lid on top of the beaker along with the thermometer and stirring rod in the solution. Record the temperature immediately of the solution (with zinc strip), and to do this every minute to 5 minutes, with continuous stirring. After receiving 6 readings of the temperature from the experiment, repeat the experiment two times with fresh acids of CuSO4, strips of zinc, and a new thermometer each time. Then use this method but instead using lead nitrate solution, and also repeat this experiment twice.

Safety Precautions:

* Safety goggles.

* Gloves.

* Use tongs to add metal to either solution.

* Fume cupboard.

* Wear laboratory Coat.

Diagram of apparatus:

Table of Results:

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How to ensure results are reliable and errors are arise:

* Use a lagging jacket around and lid (both made from polystyrene) the beaker.

* Ensure continuous stirring throughout of solution (with zinc strip) to maintain even heat distribution.

* Take three sets of readings to eliminate any anomalous for each experiment.

* Ensure same dimensions and same weight zinc trip and ensure fresh acids are used each time.

* Different thermometer is used each time.

* Ensure that each solution is exactly the same temperature before the zinc is added.

How I will process my results to calculate the enthalpy change between the zinc strip and the acid:

Reaction between zinc and copper sulphate:

Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

Reaction between zinc and lead nitrate:

To calculate the enthalpy change of reaction between the specific acid and zinc:

After I have found each reaction's enthalpy change of the reaction between the specific acid and zinc strip, I will the compare each reaction's enthalpy.