Exothermic and Endothermic

Reactions with Gas Tests

SCH3U3-01
Oh, Shannon
March 23, 2017

Date Performed: March 9, 2017

Partners: Lisa Liu
Elizabeth Cui
Instructor: Ms. Teper

1 Purpose
The objective of this lab was to investigate the properties of an endothermic reaction and an
exothermic reaction. The types of reactions and the changes in temperature were recorded
to learn more about different types of chemical reactions. Experimenting with chemicals
in the chemistry lab helps to strengthen the scientific theories learned in class of writing
balanced equations, identifying reactions, and analyzing reactions. What is learned in class
can be tested and proven in the real world by performing scientific experiments.

2 Materials
- Clay Crucible - Baking Soda (NaHCO3 )
- Erlenmeyer Flask - Citric Acid (C6 H8 O7 )
- Scoopula - Hydrogen Peroxide (H2 O2 )
- Test Tube with Stopper (x2) - Limewater (Ca(OH)2 )
- Test Tube Rack - Manganese IV Oxide (MnO2 )
- Candle
- Lighter
- Wooden Splints
- Thermometer

3 Procedure
3.1 Experiment 1: Citric Acid and Baking Soda
During this lab, two experiments were preformed. The first experiment was a test to see
what the reaction of Citric Acid and Baking Soda would be.
First, the proper materials for the experiment were obtained from the instructor. (Erlen-
meyer flask, clay crucible, test tube, test tube rack, thermometer, citric acid, limewater,
and baking soda).
Second, 100mL of Citric acid was measured and poured into the Erlenmeyer flask. After-
wards, the clay crucible was filled with Baking soda. Then, the test tube was filled halfway
with limewater, and placed on the test tube rack.
Next, the temperature of the Citric acid was measured with a thermometer and recorded.
Then the baking soda was carefully added into the Citric acid until the reaction stopped.

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The temperature of the new solution was measured and recorded.
Afterwards, the gas at the surface of the flask was poured into the test tube, transferring
no liquid in the process.
The test tube was stoppered immediately after and shaken.
Observations were made and recorded.
Lastly, glassware and other materials were cleaned and properly placed. All chemicals were
properly disposed of.

3.2 Experiment 2: Hydrogen Peroxide with Manganese IV Oxide

The second experiment preformed was one that involved Hydrogen peroxide and Manganese
IV oxide.
First, the proper materials for the experiment were obtained from the instructor. (Test
tube, test tube rack, scoopula, thermometer, hydrogen peroxide, and manganese IV oxide)
Second, the Hydrogen peroxide solution was poured into the test tube until it was 1/3 full.
The temperature of the solution was measured with a thermometer and recorded.
A small amount of Manganese IV oxide was taken with a scoopula and added to the test
tube.
The test tube was lightly stoppered.
A gas test was preformed to determine and verify the nature of the gas that was released
during the reaction.
The gas test preformed was the glowing splint gas test. A wooden splint was lit with fire
from a candle, and quickly blown out. The glowing splint was then immediately placed in
the test tube to see whether it would reignite or not.
The result of the gas test was observed and recorded.
The temperature of the product was measured and recorded.
Other observations were made and recorded.
Lastly, glassware and other materials were cleaned and properly placed. All chemicals were
properly disposed of.

4 Safety
When working with chemicals in the lab, it is important to follow certain safety precautions.
This is due to the dangerous nature of many of the chemicals in the room, and the amount
of accidents that can occur.
Safety goggles were worn at all times during the experiment. This was to protect ones eyes
from chemicals that could splash into the face due to accidents and/or unexpected reactions.
Long hair was tied back, because hair getting in the chemicals is very dangerous. For the
same reason, dangly clothing or accessories had to be taken off.
The open end of a test tube or flask should never be directed towards someone. This rule
needs to be followed because even if a test tube appears to be empty, an unknown gas might
be contained in the test tube, and directing the open end of the test tube to an individual
might cause harm to them.
During the experiment, it is important to keep the area clear of all clutter and distractions,
because other items on the working surface might accidentally knock a flask or something
else to the ground.
Lastly, it is important to clean up properly after the experiment. If chemicals are left in
glassware, the next person that performs an experiment may pour in a chemical that would
react very strongly with the remaining chemicals. An unexpected and undesirable reaction
may occur, one that is potentially very dangerous. In addition, some chemicals (such as
Manganese IV oxide) should not be disposed of in the sink. They must be disposed of in a
chemical waste bin instead.

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5 Observations

Experiment 1: Experiment 2:
Observations
Citric acid & Baking soda Hydrogen peroxide & Manganese IV oxide

Temperature of
Solution Before 22 C 21 C
Reaction

Temperature of
Solution After 17 C 31 C
Reaction

Solution bubbled and

Observations of fizzed a lot for a few Solution bubbled slightly, released visible
reaction seconds and became vapors, became really hot
really cold

Gas Test Limewater test for

Glowing Splint test for Oxygen gas
Chosen Carbon dioxide

Limewater gets cloudy

Glowing Splint is reignited when stuck
Observation for when shaken with the
into the test tube in which the reaction
Gas Test poured gas from the
occurred
reaction

Gas Test Carbon Dioxide was a

Oxygen was a product of the reaction
Conclusion product of the reaction

Table 1: Observation chart of the 2 experiments preformed

6 Analysis
6.1 Experiment 1: Citric Acid and Baking Soda
When this experiment was preformed, the temperature dropped 5 degrees (from 22 C to
17 C), and the flask was noticeably colder than before. This means that the reaction ab-
sorbed heat. Thus, this reaction can be classified as an endothermic reaction.
A reaction can also be classified by the type of reaction. This reaction can be represented
by a chemical equation that will help one determine the type of reaction:

Skeletal Equation: C6 H8 O7 ( aq) + NaHCO3 ( s) > Na3 C6 H5 O7 ( aq) + H2 O( l)+ CO2 ( g)

Balanced Chemical Equation:

C6 H8 O7 ( aq) + 3NaHCO3 ( s) > Na3 C6 H5 O7 ( aq) + 3H2 O + CO2 ( l)

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From the chemical equations above, we can see that an acid (citric acid) and a base (baking
soda) are reacting together to form a neutralization reaction. Characteristic of all neutral-
ization reactions with a bicarbonate base, the products are a salt, water, and carbon dioxide.
This chemical equation also explains why this reaction is endothermic and not exothermic.
In the equation, you can see many, many new bonds formed in the products. Atoms need
energy to form bonds. Because of the amount of new bonds needed, the atoms took heat
energy from their surroundings to make new bonds.
It was predicted that the product of this reaction would be Carbon Dioxide (CO2 ). To
test this prediction, the limewater test was preformed to see if the gas produced was indeed
Carbon Dioxide.
To test for Carbon dioxide with limewater, Carbon dioxide is added to a test tube with
limewater, which is stoppered and then shaken. If the water turns cloudy, it is a sign that
Carbon dioxide was added.
This is because limewater and carbon dioxide react to form Calcium Carbonate which is
insoluble in water and thus forms a milky white precipitate. This can be represented with
the equation:

Equation: Ca(OH)2 ( aq) + CO2 ( g) > CaCo3 ( s) + H2 O( l)

This is a form of a double displacement reaction. 2 compounds react to form 2 new com-
pounds. It may not seem like a double displacement reaction at first, however if it is rewritten
like below, and we assume that CaO displaces the Oxygen in the second compound, it is
clear that this reaction is a double displacement reaction.

CaO2 H2 ( aq) + CO2 ( g) > CaCo3 ( s) + H2 O( l)

6.2 Experiment 2: Hydrogen Peroxide and Manganese IV Oxide

This experiment may have seemed like a reaction between Hydrogen Peroxide and Man-
ganese IV oxide initially. This is because when the two chemicals were added together, a
reaction immediately occurred. However, this reaction was in fact a decomposition reac-
tion. Only the Hydrogen peroxide was reacting. The Manganese IV oxide merely acted as
a catalyst to speed up the experiment. These facts were deduced by the fact that when
the experiment ended, the Manganese IV oxide seemed the same. The same amount of
Manganese IV oxide that was added to the reaction remained chemically unchanged and at
the same amount at the bottom of the test tube at the end of the reaction. The reaction
can be represented by the following equation:

Skeletal Equation: H2 O2 ( aq) > H2 O( l) + O2 ( g)

Balanced Equation: 2H2 O2 ( aq) > 2H2 O( l) + O2 ( g)

The hydrogen peroxide decomposes into Water and Oxygen gas. This is a decomposi-
tion reaction. When the temperatures for the solution before and after the reaction were
measured, there was a 10 degree increase in temperature (21 C to 31 C). The reaction is
therefore exothermic, it releases heat. The reaction releases energy because the bonds that
were holding together the compound are breaking up (decomposing) and the energy that
was in those bonds are released in the form of heat energy.
To test if Oxygen was indeed a product in this reaction, the glowing splint gas test was
preformed. In this test, a wooden splint is lit, and quickly blown out. The glowing splint is
then put into the test tube. If the splint reignites, it is a signal that oxygen gas is present.
This is because Oxygen is the gas responsible for maintaining a combustion reaction, which
is any form of burning.

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7 Conclusion
In this lab, it was concluded that when Citric acid and Baking soda react, it forms an
endothermic reaction, and when Hydrogen Peroxide decomposes, it forms an exothermic
reaction.
Based on these findings and the analysis of these findings, it can be concluded that when
many bonds need to be made, it requires a lot of energy and is therefore an endothermic re-
action. This is usually a displacement or a synthesis reaction. It is predicted that reactions
between molecular and/or polyatomic compounds that produce many different compounds
are endothermic for this reason. However, this might not be the case for every synthe-
sis/displacement reaction. Many of them may be exothermic instead.
On the other hand, when bonds are broken, energy is released, forming an exothermic reac-
tion. This is usually a decomposition reaction. Again, this might not be the case for every
decomposition reaction.

Some sources of errors may have been from the gases produced from the experiment. In the
first experiment, the flask was not stoppered after the reaction occurred, so a lot of the gas
produced could have escaped, and the appropriate reaction might not have occurred. It was
also required to pour the gas into a test tube. Many errors that could have occurred if
the liquid from the reaction spilled into the limewater, producing an unexpected reaction.
In the second lab test when the reaction test tube was supposed to be stoppered, the stopper
was not properly placed on the tube, so the gas could be heard escaping.
Other sources of error could have been from contamination in the glassware. For example,
in the experiment, the solution turned pink after the temperature was measured. This was
because the thermometer was contaminated.

If we fixed all of these potential sources of error, the experiment could be greatly im-
proved. In addition, what could be improved are the lab instructions. If a list of materials
were provided beforehand, and the purpose of the experiment was known beforehand, the
experiment could have run much more smoothly, with less errors and time wasted. Learning
would have been more efficient.