Determining Best Calorimeter Experiment
Chemistry Lab Report
Determining Best Calorimeter
Dylan Mendonca
12-B
Background: Calorimetry is the science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes. Calorimetry is performed with a calorimeter. A calorimeter can be any container from a cup to a Calorimeters need to be well insulated as calorimetry relies on the fact that temperature change only occurs within the solution and that no heat escapes to the surroundings. That is why it is important that calorimeters are well insulated. However, heat loss cannot be avoided so scientists, when conducting experiments, need to choose the calorimeter that allows least heat energy to escape, therefore, retaining as much heat within the solution
Research Question: By measuring temperature change of the reaction between hydrochloric acid (1.0M) and sodium hydroxide (1.0M) in different calorimeters, is a glass, styrofoam or copper calorimeter best for this reaction?
Aim: By adding 40cm3 of 1.0M of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to 40cm3 of 1.0M of sodium hydroxide (NaCl) of known temperature in different calorimeters (glass, styrofoam or copper), this experiment will measure temperature change of the solution with time and hence deduce which calorimeter is best
Hypothesis: The best form of calorimeter is one in which least heat energy is lost to the surroundings; i.e., the one in which the heat energy of the solution is retained best. One way of measuring heat energy is by measuring temperature of a solution using a thermometer. So, the best calorimeter would be the one where the temperature change is the greatest as most heat energy is kept with the solution. According to this idea, the calorimeter, which is most insulated or is made of a good insulator, will prevent heat from escaping from the solution and hence that would be the best calorimeter. From my list of calorimeters, which I will be testing (glass, styrofoam or copper), I predict that the styrofoam calorimeter will be the best insulator while
Determining Best Calorimeter
Dylan Mendonca
12-B
Background: Calorimetry is the science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes. Calorimetry is performed with a calorimeter. A calorimeter can be any container from a cup to a Calorimeters need to be well insulated as calorimetry relies on the fact that temperature change only occurs within the solution and that no heat escapes to the surroundings. That is why it is important that calorimeters are well insulated. However, heat loss cannot be avoided so scientists, when conducting experiments, need to choose the calorimeter that allows least heat energy to escape, therefore, retaining as much heat within the solution
Research Question: By measuring temperature change of the reaction between hydrochloric acid (1.0M) and sodium hydroxide (1.0M) in different calorimeters, is a glass, styrofoam or copper calorimeter best for this reaction?
Aim: By adding 40cm3 of 1.0M of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to 40cm3 of 1.0M of sodium hydroxide (NaCl) of known temperature in different calorimeters (glass, styrofoam or copper), this experiment will measure temperature change of the solution with time and hence deduce which calorimeter is best
Hypothesis: The best form of calorimeter is one in which least heat energy is lost to the surroundings; i.e., the one in which the heat energy of the solution is retained best. One way of measuring heat energy is by measuring temperature of a solution using a thermometer. So, the best calorimeter would be the one where the temperature change is the greatest as most heat energy is kept with the solution. According to this idea, the calorimeter, which is most insulated or is made of a good insulator, will prevent heat from escaping from the solution and hence that would be the best calorimeter. From my list of calorimeters, which I will be testing (glass, styrofoam or copper), I predict that the styrofoam calorimeter will be the best insulator while