Analysis of Temperature Changes in Calorimetry: Experiment Report

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to identify an unknown metal by determining its specific heat capacity and comparing it to a list of specific heat values for different metals. The experiment involved measuring the temperature changes of both the metal sample and water in a calorimeter. The specific heat of the metal was calculated using the temperature changes and known values, leading to the identification of the mystery metal as Zinc. However, a significant percent error was observed, indicating potential sources of error in the experimental procedure.

Introduction

Calorimetry is a widely used technique in chemistry to measure the heat transfer during chemical reactions or physical processes. In this experiment, the specific heat capacity of an unknown metal was determined by measuring the temperature changes of both the metal and water when the metal was added to the water in a calorimeter. By applying the principles of calorimetry and utilizing known specific heat values for different metals, the goal was to identify the mystery metal accurately.

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Materials and Methods

Materials

• Calorimeter
• Metal sample (unknown)
• Water
• Thermometer
• Weighing scale

Procedure

1. Weigh the metal sample and record its mass (mmetal).
2. Boil water and record its initial temperature (Tinitial_water).
3. Transfer the hot water into the calorimeter and immediately record its temperature (Tcalorimeter_without_metal).
4. Add the metal sample to the calorimeter containing hot water and record the final temperature (Tfinal_calorimeter_with_metal).

Experimental Procedure

The experiment began by weighing the unknown metal sample to determine its mass (mmetal). Subsequently, water was boiled, and its initial temperature (Tinitial_water) was recorded.

The hot water was carefully transferred into the calorimeter, and the temperature of the water in the calorimeter without the metal (Tcalorimeter_without_metal) was recorded immediately.

The metal sample was added to the calorimeter containing the hot water, and the final temperature (Tfinal_calorimeter_with_metal) was recorded. The temperature changes for both the water in the calorimeter (ΔTwater) and the metal sample (ΔTmetal) were calculated as follows:

ΔTwater = Tfinal_calorimeter_with_metal - Tcalorimeter_without_metal

ΔTmetal = Tfinal_calorimeter_with_metal - Tinitial_water

The specific heat of water (Cwater) was known to be 4.186 J/g°C. Using the principles of calorimetry and the following equation, the specific heat of the metal sample (Cmetal) was calculated:

Cmetal = (mwater * Cwater * ΔTwater) / (mmetal * ΔTmetal)

The calculated specific heat of the metal sample was then compared to a list of specific heat values for different metals to identify the mystery metal.

Results

The experimental data collected for this calorimetry experiment is summarized in the table below:

Using the provided data, the temperature changes for the water in the calorimeter (ΔTwater) and the metal sample (ΔTmetal) were calculated as follows:

ΔTwater = Tfinal_calorimeter_with_metal - Tcalorimeter_without_metal = Insert ΔTwater Value

ΔTmetal = Tfinal_calorimeter_with_metal - Tinitial_water = Insert ΔTmetal Value

The specific heat of water (Cwater) was known to be 4.186 J/g°C. Using the calculated temperature changes, the specific heat of the metal sample (Cmetal) was determined as follows:

Cmetal = (mwater * Cwater * ΔTwater) / (mmetal * ΔTmetal) = Insert Cmetal Value

The specific heat of the mystery metal was found to be Insert Cmetal Value J/g°C. Based on this specific heat value, the mystery metal was identified as Zinc.

However, a significant percent error was observed when comparing the experimental specific heat value to the known specific heat of Zinc (0.390 J/g°C). The percent error was calculated as follows:

Percent Error = |(Actual Value - Experimental Value) / Actual Value| * 100% = Insert Percent Error Value%

Discussion

The primary objective of this experiment was to identify the unknown metal by determining its specific heat capacity and comparing it to known specific heat values for different metals. The experimental procedure involved measuring the temperature changes of both the metal and water in a calorimeter.

The calculated specific heat of the mystery metal was found to be Insert Cmetal Value J/g°C. This value closely resembled the specific heat of Cadmium (0.230 J/g°C), but the actual metal was identified as Zinc, which has a specific heat of 0.390 J/g°C. This resulted in a significant percent error of Insert Percent Error Value%, indicating a substantial deviation from the expected value.

Several sources of error may have contributed to the high percent error observed in this experiment. One potential source of error could be inaccuracies in reading the thermometer, leading to imprecise temperature measurements. Using digital thermometers with higher accuracy could help mitigate this issue in future experiments.

Another possible source of error could be errors in the calculation of specific heat. The experimental procedure and calculations need to be carefully reviewed and explained to ensure that all students have a clear understanding of the methodology.

Furthermore, it is essential to emphasize the importance of following the procedure accurately. Deviating from the specified steps or omitting critical details can lead to unreliable results. Ensuring that students thoroughly read and understand the procedure before conducting the experiment can help prevent procedural errors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this experiment aimed to identify an unknown metal by determining its specific heat capacity and comparing it to known specific heat values for various metals. While the calculated specific heat value closely resembled that of Cadmium, the actual metal was identified as Zinc. However, a substantial percent error of Insert Percent Error Value% was observed, indicating potential errors in temperature measurements and calculations.

Recommendations

To improve the accuracy of future experiments, the following recommendations are suggested:

1. Use digital thermometers with higher accuracy to minimize temperature measurement errors.
2. Provide clear and detailed explanations of the experimental procedure and calculations to enhance students' understanding.
3. Emphasize the importance of following the procedure accurately and thoroughly reading it before conducting the experiment to minimize procedural errors.