Final answer:
To calculate the heat of neutralization you need the balanced chemical equation, the moles of reactants, the temperature change, and the specific heat capacity. Divide the heat change by the moles of acid to find the heat of neutralization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating the Heat of Neutralization for H₂SO₄ and NaOH
To calculate the heat of neutralization for the reaction between sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), you first need to know the molarity and volume of the NaOH solution used in the experiment. Then, write down the balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
H₂SO₄ (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na₂SO₄ (aq) + 2H₂O(l)
According to the stoichiometry of the reaction, 1 mole of H₂SO₄ reacts with 2 moles of NaOH. Use this information to establish a conversion factor for the moles of the reactants. If the molarity (M) of NaOH is provided along with its volume (V), you can calculate the number of moles of NaOH that were present in the reaction:
moles of NaOH = Molarity NaOH × Volume NaOH
From the balanced equation, you can then determine the moles of H₂SO₄ that would react with the calculated moles of NaOH:
moles of H₂SO₄ = moles of NaOH / 2
Next, measure the temperature change (ΔT) of the solution during the reaction and use the mass of the solution along with the specific heat capacity (usually assumed to be the same as water, 4.184 J/g°C) to calculate the heat change (q) using the equation q = mass × specific heat capacity × ΔT. Dividing this heat change by the moles of H2SO4 gives the heat of neutralization per mole of acid:
heat of neutralization (per mole H₂SO₄) = q / moles of H₂SO₄
Keep in mind that additional corrections may be necessary if there is heat loss to the surroundings or if the reaction is carried out in a medium other than water.