Plotting the Calibration Curve of a Thermometer using a Laboratory Alcohol Thermometer as Standard

Procedure:

1. Add ice to 50ml of water in a beaker with a graduated thermometer and an uncalibrated thermometer.

2. Read the temperature on the graduated thermometer and record it in a table.

3. Measure the length of the column of alcohol and record it in the table.

4. Put the beaker over a heat source and heat it gently.

5. Record the temperature and length of the column of alcohol every 10^oC

6. Plot the graph of the length of the column of alcohol against temperature.

7. To use the alcohol thermometer to read temperature, measure the length of the column of alcohol and find the corresponding temperature using the calibration curve.

Accuracy:

• Parallax error when reading the temperature.

• Zero error when the temperature has not reached zero.

Diagram:

Measurement of the Specific Heat Capacity of a Metal by a Mechanical Method

Procedure:

1. Using a mass balance, find the weight of a copper calorimeter.

2. Add cold water (5^oC below room temperature) to the calorimeter.

3. Find the mass of the water and calorimeter and convert it into kg.

4. Find the mass of the water by subtracting the mass of the calorimeter from the total mass.

5. Find the inital temperature of the water and copper by using a thermometer.

6. Find the mass of the copper rivets using a mass balance and convert it to kg.

7. Put the copper rivets into a boiling tube into a beaker of water and heat it to 100^oC.

8. Add copper rivets to the calorimeter.

9. Record the final temperature of the water using a thermometer.

10. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the copper riverts, assuming no heat was lost to the surroundings.

Accuracy:

• Make sure not to splash water when adding the rivets.

• Use lid on calorimeter to ensure no heat is lost to surroundings.

Diagram:

Measurement of the Specific Latent Heat of Fusion of Ice

Procedure:

1. Crush the ice, place it in a beaker and leave it for a few minutes until it is noticeably melted.

2. Take the temperature of the ice, and ensure it is at 0^oC

3. Find the mass of the empty calorimeter using an electronic balance.

4. Heat some water to about 30^oC in a beaker using the bunsen.

5. Fill the calorimeter about ¾ of the way with the hot water.

6. Find the combined mass of the calorimeter and the water, and find the mass of the water by subtracting the mass of the calorimeter from the combined mass.

7. Note the value of room temperature, and stir the warm water until the temperature is 5^oC above room temperaure.

8. Place the calorimeter into a container of insulating material and record the value of the final temperature.

9. Dry the crushed ice thoroughly with the cloth.

10. Add the dried ice into the water until it is 5^oC below room temperature.

11. Stir to evenly distribute the ice and record the temperature.

12. Find the combined mass of the calorimeter, water, and melted ice, and find the value of the ice by subtracting the mass of the calorimeter and water from the combined mass.

13. Use the information collected to solve for the specific latent heat of fusion of ice.

Accuracy:

• Avoid spalshing the water when adding the ice as it may change the mass of the water.

• Parallax error when reading the temperature.

• Zero error if you are unable to get the ice to 0^oc

Diagram:

Measurement of the Specific Latent Heat of Vaporisation of Steam

Procedure:

1. Find the mass of the calorimeter

2. Fill the calorimeter with cold water and find the mass

3. Set up a round bottomed flask and connect the steam trap

4. Brink flask to boil

5. Adjust flame so steam is emerging at a steady rate

6. Record temperature of cold water in calorimeter

7. Dry exit tube from steam trap with cloth

8. Place exit tube deep into cold water

9. Leave tube in water until a 12^oC temperature change is noted

10. Remove the tube and turn off bunsen burner

11. Stir the water and record the highest temperature

12. Record the mass of the calorimeter and water and steam

Accuracy:

• Dry steam tap to prevent excess water entering calorimeter

• Ensure calorimeter is insulated to prevent heat loss to surroundings

• Parallax error when reading temperature

• Use thermometer graduated in steps of 0.1^oC to get accurate temperature reading

Diagram: