Answer to Question #39529 in Inorganic Chemistry for Razia Sims

Question

In this experiment I will find out how the temperature rise changes when 25cm^3 portions of sodium hydroxide solution are mixed with different volumes of hydrochloric acid between 5cm^3 and 45cm^3.

I understand that the temperature of the solution will increase as the amount of hydrochloric acid increases and that the optimum temperature change will be at 25cm^3 of hydrochloric acid. However it will start decreasing when more hydrochloric acid is added.

Can you explain how this relates to neutralisation, collision theory, exothermic reactions and why the optimum is at 25cm^3 and why it decreases after 25cm^3?

*I will be using the same concentration of NaOH and HCl (1 mol).
*I will not be using an indicator.

Thank you in advance.