Exothermic Reaction Lab Report Essay

From the results recorded it was identified that activity A and C had exothermic reactions, whilst activity B had an endothermic reaction. Each of the activities had initially begun with 23.4/8/9oC, however, within one minute of adding the 2nd reactants, the results began showing, as seen from the graph. Activity A and C had risen in temperature, with A gaining 4oC and in total of 2 minutes having the temperature of 27.9oC along with C increasing by 2.2oC and within 2 minutes of the experiment having the temperature of 26oC. Activity B however was the anomaly in the test, as the temperature went lower, by 1.9oC as within 2 minutes, the Ammonium Chloride and water had the temperature of 21oC. Furthermore the line graph shows Activity A and C rising to its highest peak, although it eventually reduces. Activity A for example, was rising until it reached 27.9oC and it continuously decreased, until the 10 minute mark had reached having the final temperature similar to the initial temperature. A similar thing occurred to Activity C however, as its highest peak was 26oC (2 minutes in the test), and the final temperature having a 0.1oC difference from the initial temperature.
Both of the activities rise in temperature, showing the increase of the heat. This is because the reactants in the exothermic reactions had a greater amount of heat content than the products, and therefore producing a negative enthalpy. Activity B however created an endothermic reaction, absorbing heat from its surroundings, due to its lack of energy. Ammonium Chloride and Water had shown to have more products than reactants; and this consequently produced a positive enthalpy change. As Activity A and B produced exothermic reactions, they are most suitable for heat and eat packs. This is due to the fact that exothermic reactions project heat to its surroundings, and therefore heating the