Introduction:
This experiment was designed to investigate the link between temperature changes and physical changes in
cooling curves using paraffin wax and stearic acid as examples. A cooling curve is a graph that shows how
something cools over time. To do this, I had to use different techniques with a tool called a calorimeter to learn
about the curves better. Calorimetry is a method scientists use to measure heat during reactions or changes.
They use a device called a calorimeter to do this. Calorimetry is important in science as it helps us to measure
changes in reactions based on the heat they give off or take in. The calorimeter functions similarly to a boiling
tube or glass beaker in which we place a thermometer to record temperature variations. Calibration is making
sure that a device gives correct measurements by comparing it to known standards and then adjusting it if they
need to be changed.
Equipment 1- Calibration of thermometers:
Equipment:
- Boiling hot water
- Ice
- Timer
- Beaker x2
- Digital thermometer
- Liquid filled thermometer
- Tripod
- Bunsen Burner
- Gauze
- Kettle
Risk How we prevented it:
Cuts because of glass Cut dangers existed, but they could have been avoided by donning lab coats and goggles in the event
equipment that the glass equipment broke.
In case there were breaks a teacher would be told to make sure medical attention was provided.
Burns from boiling water Made sure the boiling water was placed safely and on stable and not faulty equipment, also making
sure we were taking care whilst using the hot water and we also prevented spillages and burns by
wearing lab coats and goggles.
Also making sure that we handle the kettle with care.
Spillages If there are spillages, this can lead to trips and falls.
We can prevent this by making sure we always wiping away spillages as soon as it happens before
carrying on with our experiment to make sure nothing can happen.
Method:
1) First you get 2 beakers. You can label them to make it easier. I would label them A and B to make it
easier
2) In beaker A, you fill it with ice.
3) In the ice, you place both a digital thermometer and a liquid thermometer and then time one minute
using a stopwatch. When using both thermometers, it was made sure that the thermometers were held
in both the ice beaker and boiling water, this is to make sure it didn't affect the temperature.
4) Then you record the temperatures of both of the thermometers
5) For beaker B, we then boil some water, we do this by using a kettle
6) We then pour the water into beaker B