Skip to content

Course home

5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions

5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions

EasyMediumHard
123456789
Question 7

A student investigated the temperature change when different masses of anhydrous ammonium nitrate were dissolved in water.

Method:

  1. Measure 50 cm350\text{ cm}^350 cm3 of water into a polystyrene cup.
  2. Measure the initial temperature of the water.
  3. Add a known mass of ammonium nitrate to the water.
  4. Stir the mixture until all the ammonium nitrate has dissolved.
  5. Measure the lowest temperature reached by the solution.
  6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 with different masses of ammonium nitrate.

Table 1: Results of the investigation

Mass of ammonium nitrate added (g\text{g}g)Lowest temperature of solution (∘C^{\circ}\text{C}∘C)
3.03.03.017.917.917.9
6.06.06.014.314.314.3
9.09.09.010.710.710.7
12.012.012.07.17.17.1
15.015.015.03.53.53.5

Questions:

a.

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this investigation.

[2]
b.

Determine the initial temperature of the water by extrapolating the linear data to a mass of 0 g0\text{ g}0 g.

[2]
c.

State whether the dissolving of ammonium nitrate is exothermic or endothermic, and justify your answer.

[2]
d.

The student repeated the experiment four times using 9.0 g9.0\text{ g}9.0 g of ammonium nitrate. The lowest temperatures recorded were 10.4 ∘C10.4\ ^{\circ}\text{C}10.4 ∘C, 11.2 ∘C11.2\ ^{\circ}\text{C}11.2 ∘C, 10.9 ∘C10.9\ ^{\circ}\text{C}10.9 ∘C, and 10.7 ∘C10.7\ ^{\circ}\text{C}10.7 ∘C. Calculate the mean lowest temperature and the uncertainty (using ±range2\pm \frac{\text{range}}{2}±2range​). Express your final answer in the format mean±uncertainty\text{mean} \pm \text{uncertainty}mean±uncertainty.

[2]
Markscheme

5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Chemistry
  3. /5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions

13 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions, covering 5.1.1 Energy transfer during exothermic and endothermic reactions, 5.1.2 Reaction profiles, and 5.1.3 The energy change of reactions (HT only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

Question bank