Acetic acid (ethanoic acid) and hydrochloric acid react with KOH solution. The enthalpy of neutralisation of ethanoic acid is -55.8 kJ mol-1 while that of hydrochloric acid is - 57.3 kJ mol-1. Can you think of how are these different?

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1 Answers

Enthalpy of neutralisation for HCI = - 57.3 kJ mol -1

Enthalpy of neutralisation for CH3COOH = - 55.8 kJ mol-1

In ease of neutralisation of CH3COOH, the part of heat released

[-57.3-(-55.8) = - 1.5 kJ] is used up in dissociation of acetic acid and thus heat given out is lesser than 57.3 kJ.

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