The Decomposition of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate

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TO FIND ?H FOR A REACTION WHICH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MEASURE THE ENTHALPY CHANGE DIRECTLY

? In this experiment you are going to find ?Hreaction for the decomposition of sodium hydrogen carbonate:

2NaHCO3 (s) --> Na2CO3(s) + CO2(g) +H2O(l) by an indirect method.

You are going to experimentally determine ?Hreaction for the reactions:

Na2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq)-->2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) +H2O(l)

and NaHCO3(s)+ 2HCl(aq)--> NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) +H2O(l)

and use your experimental values to find ?Hreaction for the decomposition of sodium hydrogen carbonate.
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In all calculations you may assume that the mass of any reaction mixture is the same as that of an equal volume of water (density of water=1.00g/cm³) and its specific heat capacity is the same as that of water (4180J/Kg/K).

(i) To find ?Hreaction for Na2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq)-->2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) +H2O(l):

? Weigh out accurately about 2.0g of anhydrous sodium carbonate.

? Place 50cm³ of the hydrochloric acid provided (in excess) in a plastic beaker.

? Record the temperature of the acid at half minute intervals. After 31/2 minutes add the anhydrous sodium carbonate, ...

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