Energy changes: neutralisation practical
I can perform a practical to measure the temperature change in a neutralisation reaction, record results, analyse data, and conclude if the reaction is exothermic or endothermic.
Energy changes: neutralisation practical
I can perform a practical to measure the temperature change in a neutralisation reaction, record results, analyse data, and conclude if the reaction is exothermic or endothermic.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Neutralisation reactions involve an acid reacting with a base to form salt and water.
- Exothermic reactions release energy to the surroundings, often through heating.
- Methods must be detailed and replicable for reliable data collection.
- The initial and final temperatures of the reaction mixture need to be recorded to calculate energy change.
- Line graphs can illustrate relationships between continuous variables in experiments.
Keywords
Neutralisation - Neutralisation is when a chemical reaction takes place between an acid and base to produce a neutral solution of a salt and water.
Exothermic - An exothermic reaction is a type of reaction in which energy is transferred from the reactants to the surroundings e.g. combustion.
Method - A method describes how an experiment is carried out; it is a step-by-step procedure.
Line graph - A line graph involves two continuous variables being plotted to show if a relationship exists between them. Any trends in the data are shown with the addition of a line of best fit.
Conclusion - A conclusion sums up what has been found out during an investigation. It always refers to both the independent and dependent variables.
Common misconception
Pupils can assume that any decrease in temperature occurring when excess reactant is added to an exothermic reaction is because the reaction has become endothermic.
Explain that once the limiting reactant has been used up the exothermic reaction is complete. The addition of excess reactant will only act to cool down the reaction mixture.
Equipment
class set of polystyrene cups and lids, thermometers, measuring cylinders, stirring rods, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solutions
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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