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The aim of this experiment is to determine the boiling and cooling curves of water using different types of thermometers. Additionally, we aim to determine the cooling and melting points of stearic acid and study the cooling curves of paraffin wax.
| Hazard | Risk | Control Measures | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot water | Bunsen burner burns | Wear goggles, lab coat, and gloves | Wash with cold water |
| Broken glass | Cut and bleeding | Handle the apparatus carefully | Get first aid |
| Stearic acid | Causes skin and eye irritation | Wear lab coat, gloves, and goggles | Wash with water |
| Paraffin wax | Cut and bleeding | Wear gloves and lab coat | Wash with water |
| Bunsen burner | Burn | Wear lab coat and gloves | Wash with cold water |
We began by filling half of a 300ml beaker with ice cubes and a small amount of tap water.
After stirring the mixture with a glass rod, we allowed it to cool for 2 minutes.
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Next, we placed thermometers into the beaker and left them to record the results for each thermometer in freezing water. Subsequently, we placed the beaker on a Bunsen burner to boil the water and recorded the temperature of the boiling water.
| State of Water | Alcohol Thermometer (°C) | Digital Thermometer (°C) | Actual Water Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freezing | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Boiling | 100.1 | 100.2 | 100 |
First Attempt: We filled a large beaker with water and placed it on a Bunsen burner to boil.
Then, we added three spatulas of stearic acid into a test tube and carefully placed it in the boiling water bath using tongs. Once the stearic acid melted, we moved the test tube to a test tube holder and immediately began recording the temperature using an alcohol thermometer every 60 seconds until the liquid solidified and cooled down to 30°C.
Problem: The alcohol thermometer eventually stopped at 54°C, and there wasn't enough stearic acid.
Solutions: We decided to use a boiling tube, a digital thermometer, and a balance for the second attempt.
We filled a large beaker with water and placed it on a Bunsen burner to boil. Using a weighing boat and a balance, we measured exactly 3.00g of stearic acid and added it to a boiling tube. The boiling tube was then carefully placed in the boiling water bath using tongs. Once the stearic acid melted, we moved the boiling tube to a test tube holder and immediately began recording the temperature using a digital thermometer and a stopwatch every 60 seconds until the liquid solidified and cooled down to 30°C.
| Time (s) | Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|
| 60 | 68 |
| 120 | 64 |
| 180 | 58 |
| 240 | 57 |
| 300 | 54 |
| 360 | 53 |
| 420 | 52 |
| 480 | 52 |
| 540 | 50 |
| 600 | 50 |
| 660 | 48 |
| 720 | 47 |
| 780 | 44 |
| 840 | 42 |
| 900 | 40 |
| 960 | 36 |
| 1020 | 34 |
| 1080 | 30 |
We placed 3.00g of paraffin wax in a boiling tube, then used tongs to carefully place the boiling tube in a water bath. We immediately began recording the temperature once the paraffin had melted and continued recording the temperature every 60 seconds until the liquid solidified and cooled down to 30°C.
| Time (s) | Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|
| 60 | 71 |
| 120 | 67 |
| 180 | 60 |
| 240 | 54 |
| 300 | 51 |
| 360 | 50 |
| 420 | 49 |
| 480 | 48 |
| 540 | 47 |
| 600 | 45 |
| 660 | 42 |
| 720 | 39 |
| 780 | 36 |
| 840 | 35 |
| 900 | 33 |
| 960 | 31 |
| 1020 | 30 |
The cooling curves of stearic acid and paraffin wax show a typical trend. As the substances were heated, their temperatures increased. During cooling, their temperatures decreased steadily. For stearic acid, we observed a consistent decline in temperature from 68°C to 30°C over 1020 seconds. Paraffin wax showed a similar trend, with temperatures decreasing from 71°C to 30°C over 1020 seconds.
The digital thermometer proved more accurate and reliable than the alcohol thermometer, as the latter stopped at 54°C during the first stearic acid trial. This suggests that the digital thermometer is better suited for experiments requiring precise temperature measurements in confined spaces.
In conclusion, this experiment allowed us to determine the boiling and cooling curves of water using different thermometers. We successfully determined the cooling and melting points of stearic acid and studied the cooling curves of paraffin wax. The results demonstrated the importance of using the right equipment for accurate measurements. The digital thermometer proved to be a more reliable choice when compared to the alcohol thermometer. Overall, the experiment provided valuable insights into the behavior of substances during heating and cooling processes.
Calorimetry and Cooling Curves with Thermometers. (2024, Jan 11). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/document/calorimetry-and-cooling-curves-with-thermometers
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