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2020 O Level Chem P1 Q1 — Experimental Techniques / Measuring Temperature Change Solution

Experimental Techniques / Measuring Temperature Change 2020 O Level Pure Chemistry · Paper 1 · Q1

Question

When an excess of dilute acid is added to a known quantity of sodium carbonate, the temperature of the mixture changes. An experiment is designed to measure the temperature change when all the carbonate reacts with the acid. In addition to a thermometer and measuring cylinder, the following pieces of apparatus are available. 1 gas syringe 2 stopwatch 3 balance 4 Styrofoam beaker Which pieces of apparatus are needed for this experiment?
  1. A1, 2, 3 and 4
  2. B1 and 2 only
  3. C2, 3 and 4 only
  4. D3 and 4 only
Correct answer: D

Video Solution

Explanation

Answer: D (the balance and the Styrofoam beaker only). This experiment measures a temperature change (an enthalpy effect), not a rate, so timing the reaction is irrelevant. You record only the starting and final temperatures, so a stopwatch is not needed. A gas syringe measures the volume of gas evolved over time, which again belongs to rate experiments, not to measuring heat released.

You do need a balance, because the sodium carbonate is the limiting reactant and its mass must be known accurately. You also need the Styrofoam (polystyrene) beaker: it is a good insulator that minimises heat loss to the surroundings, giving a more accurate temperature change for this exothermic neutralisation.

So items 3 and 4 only are required. Common error: students include the stopwatch by habit, but timing only matters when measuring rate, not when measuring \(\Delta T\).

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