Answer to Question #160444 in Organic Chemistry for mariam

Question

1. Suppose that you had added solid sodium hydroxide pellets to hydrochloric acid, instead of adding hydrochloric acid to sodium hydroxide solution;

(a) Do you think you would have obtained a different enthalpy change?

(b) Would the enthalpy change have been higher or lower?

(c) How can you test your answer? 

(d) What change would you need to make to the thermochemical equation if you perform the investigation using solid sodium hydroxide?

Answer 1

The reason why HCl is added to NaOH and not the other way round is due to the large amount of energy released in the hydration reaction of Chloride acid ions. Do not believe that heat comes from dissociation, as the dissociation of acids, bases, and salts always consumes energy. The energy released is from the hydration of H+ or OH−.

Due to the reasons explained above, the reaction would proceed as it would the normal reaction.