Assignment 2B Calorimetry
I’m a newly appointed technical assistant at a large chemical plant Chemicalequip. As a part of my
induction period and to progress in my role. I have to demonstrate skills in a range of practical
procedures and techniques. Part of my row is to ensure equipment is calibrated and equipment and
chemicals are safely checked.
Part 1: Calibrating and comparing thermometers
Risk assessment
Hazard Risk Control Measures
Broken Glass Cutting yourself Wear Goggles and a lab coat
Heat Pad Burn yourself Wear heatproof gloves and a
lab coat
Method
1- Half fill a 250cm3 beaker with crushed ice.
2- Add a small amount of cold deionised water and stir with a glass rod.
3- Clamp a liquid filled thermometer and a temperature probe so that their ‘sensors’ are close
to middle of the iced water and allow to stand for 3 minutes.
4- Record the temperature readings. The actual temperature at this point should be 0oC.
5- Half fill a 250cm3 beaker with room temperature water and place on the hot plate and
record the temperature every minute until the water is boiling. Try to keep stirring the water
with a glass rod or magnetic flea.
[This is the method provided by Exeter College]
Electronic thermometer Alcohol thermometer
Ice 0.2°C 1°C
Boiling point 100.3°C 96°C
Time (mins) Electronics Thermometer (°C) Alcohol thermometer (°C)
0 25 25
1 26 27
2 30 31
3 33 34
4 38 39
5 43 42
6 48 48
7 53 53
8 59 58
9 64 63
10 68 68
11 73 72
12 77 76
, Electronic Thermometer Graph Alcohol Thermometer Graph
A liquid thermometer usually can be calibrated through a marker pen if u need. The reason for this is
if your thermometer is inaccurate. The way that I would figure this out is by getting a beaker of
boiling water that is 100°C. Then you measure the boiling water with the thermometer. If it reads
below 100°C, you will now if its inaccurate. We can solve this by drawing a line where the
thermometer has measured the boiling water. This will become the boiling point.
The results from the electronic thermometer are more accurate and reliable. This is because they
measure the temperature up to 1 decimal place therefore making it more accurate than the alcohol
thermometer. With the alcohol thermometer the readings would be less accurate because you
cannot read the decimal places.
Part 2 & 3: Cooling cops with steric acid and Paraffin
wax
Risk assessment
Hazard Risk Control Measures
Broken Glass Cutting yourself Wear goggles and a lab coat
Heat Pad Burn yourself Wear heat proof gloves and a
lab coat
Method
1- Select an appropriate mass of stearic acid and vessel to heat it in.
2- Set up the apparatus as shown below. Put about 150 cm3 water into a beaker.
3- Heat it on a hotplate until the water just starts to boil.
4- Continue to heat until ALL the stearic acid has melted.
I’m a newly appointed technical assistant at a large chemical plant Chemicalequip. As a part of my
induction period and to progress in my role. I have to demonstrate skills in a range of practical
procedures and techniques. Part of my row is to ensure equipment is calibrated and equipment and
chemicals are safely checked.
Part 1: Calibrating and comparing thermometers
Risk assessment
Hazard Risk Control Measures
Broken Glass Cutting yourself Wear Goggles and a lab coat
Heat Pad Burn yourself Wear heatproof gloves and a
lab coat
Method
1- Half fill a 250cm3 beaker with crushed ice.
2- Add a small amount of cold deionised water and stir with a glass rod.
3- Clamp a liquid filled thermometer and a temperature probe so that their ‘sensors’ are close
to middle of the iced water and allow to stand for 3 minutes.
4- Record the temperature readings. The actual temperature at this point should be 0oC.
5- Half fill a 250cm3 beaker with room temperature water and place on the hot plate and
record the temperature every minute until the water is boiling. Try to keep stirring the water
with a glass rod or magnetic flea.
[This is the method provided by Exeter College]
Electronic thermometer Alcohol thermometer
Ice 0.2°C 1°C
Boiling point 100.3°C 96°C
Time (mins) Electronics Thermometer (°C) Alcohol thermometer (°C)
0 25 25
1 26 27
2 30 31
3 33 34
4 38 39
5 43 42
6 48 48
7 53 53
8 59 58
9 64 63
10 68 68
11 73 72
12 77 76
, Electronic Thermometer Graph Alcohol Thermometer Graph
A liquid thermometer usually can be calibrated through a marker pen if u need. The reason for this is
if your thermometer is inaccurate. The way that I would figure this out is by getting a beaker of
boiling water that is 100°C. Then you measure the boiling water with the thermometer. If it reads
below 100°C, you will now if its inaccurate. We can solve this by drawing a line where the
thermometer has measured the boiling water. This will become the boiling point.
The results from the electronic thermometer are more accurate and reliable. This is because they
measure the temperature up to 1 decimal place therefore making it more accurate than the alcohol
thermometer. With the alcohol thermometer the readings would be less accurate because you
cannot read the decimal places.
Part 2 & 3: Cooling cops with steric acid and Paraffin
wax
Risk assessment
Hazard Risk Control Measures
Broken Glass Cutting yourself Wear goggles and a lab coat
Heat Pad Burn yourself Wear heat proof gloves and a
lab coat
Method
1- Select an appropriate mass of stearic acid and vessel to heat it in.
2- Set up the apparatus as shown below. Put about 150 cm3 water into a beaker.
3- Heat it on a hotplate until the water just starts to boil.
4- Continue to heat until ALL the stearic acid has melted.
