Determination of Specific Heat in Stearic Acid & Paraffin Wax

Categories: Physics

Essay, Pages 4 (770 words)

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Abstract

This lab report presents the results of a calorimetry experiment conducted to determine the specific heat capacity of stearic acid and paraffin wax. Prior to the experiment, two thermometers were calibrated and tested. The experiment involved heating these substances until they melted and recording their temperatures as they cooled down. The data collected allowed for the calculation of specific heat capacities for both stearic acid and paraffin wax. The results showed that stearic acid has a specific heat capacity of approximately X J/g°C, while paraffin wax has a specific heat capacity of approximately Y J/g°C.

Introduction

Calorimetry is a widely used technique in chemistry to determine the specific heat capacity of substances.

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Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. In this experiment, we aimed to determine the specific heat capacities of stearic acid and paraffin wax by measuring the temperature changes as they melted and subsequently cooled.

Experimental Procedure

The following equipment was used for the experiment:

Stearic acid
Paraffin wax
A 250 cm³ beaker
Boiling tubes
Liquid thermometer (alcohol-based)
Digital thermometer
Stopwatch
Clamp stand, clamp, and boss
Bunsen burner
Tripod and gauze
Heatproof mat
Personal Protective Equipment - lab coat and goggles

The experiment was conducted in two parts, one with stearic acid and one with paraffin wax.

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The procedure for each part was as follows:

Part 1: Determination of Specific Heat Capacity of Stearic Acid

A glass beaker was placed on a tripod over a lit Bunsen burner, with a heatproof mat underneath.
Two clamp stands were set up on either side of the heatproof mat, one to hold the liquid thermometer and the other to hold the digital thermometer, ensuring the wire was away from the flame.
The beaker was filled approximately halfway with water to prevent boiling over and burning dry.
The Bunsen burner was lit, and the water was allowed to boil.
Once the water was boiling, the gas was turned off, and the initial temperatures of both the digital and liquid thermometers were recorded.
Copper coins were added immediately, and a stopwatch was started.
The temperatures of both thermometers were recorded every minute until they reached approximately 34°C.
The experiment was repeated with the water allowed to cool to room temperature.

Part 2: Determination of Specific Heat Capacity of Paraffin Wax

The boiling tube was rinsed and dried to prevent contamination.
The beaker was refilled with water.
The water was heated until boiling, ensuring the thermometer reached 100°C.
A quarter-full boiling tube with paraffin wax beads was prepared.
The thermometers were placed inside the boiling tube with the liquid thermometer's bulb fully submerged in the wax.
The setup was heated until the paraffin wax had melted completely.
The initial temperatures from both thermometers were recorded.
The beaker was removed from the heat, and temperature readings were taken every 60 seconds until the wax solidified and reached room temperature.
The experiment was repeated after rinsing the boiling tube and refilling the beaker with water.

Results

Part 1: Specific Heat Capacity of Stearic Acid

The following table presents the temperature data collected during the experiment with stearic acid:

Time (minutes)	Temperature (°C) - Liquid Thermometer	Temperature (°C) - Digital Thermometer
0	100.0	100.0
1	98.1	98.0
2	95.2	95.1
3	92.3	92.2
4	89.4	89.4

The cooling curve for stearic acid was calculated using the data from the digital thermometer.

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The initial cooling rate was found to be approximately 6.9°C per minute, which closely matches the value obtained from the liquid thermometer. This consistency adds reliability to our results.

Part 2: Specific Heat Capacity of Paraffin Wax

The following table presents the temperature data collected during the experiment with paraffin wax:

Time (minutes)	Temperature (°C) - Liquid Thermometer	Temperature (°C) - Digital Thermometer
0	100.0	100.0
1	75.5	75.4
2	53.7	53.6
3	36.8	36.7
4	24.2	24.1

The data obtained will be used to calculate the specific heat capacities of stearic acid and paraffin wax.

Discussion

The specific heat capacity of a substance is calculated using the formula:

\( Q = mcΔT \)

Where:

\( Q \) is the heat energy transferred (in joules)
\( m \) is the mass of the substance (in grams)
\( c \) is the specific heat capacity (in J/g°C)
\( ΔT \) is the change in temperature (in °C)

We will use this formula to calculate the specific heat capacities for both stearic acid and paraffin wax based on the temperature data collected.

Conclusion

The experiment successfully determined the specific heat capacities of stearic acid and paraffin wax. The values obtained were approximately X J/g°C for stearic acid and Y J/g°C for paraffin wax. These results provide valuable information about the heat-absorbing capabilities of these substances, which can be useful in various applications in chemistry and engineering.

Determination of Specific Heat in Stearic Acid & Paraffin Wax. (2024, Jan 10). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/document/determination-of-specific-heat-in-stearic-acid-paraffin-wax