This experiment’s aim was to find the alcohol with the highest energy output when burnt using specific heat capacity of calorimeters. This data gathered only partially supported the hypotheses stated. There is an apparent trend between the heat energy of the alcohols and the amount of carbon atoms in the alcohols in the graphs shown. The first experiment (first graph) shows the results of the tests with a controlled calorimeter height of 20 centimeters. This means that the calorimeter, rather than being held at the optimum part of the flame, was kept at a constant height above the spirit burner.
There is an increase from methanol to ethanol, however the heat energy seems to have a decline when going on to propanol. This is because the flame …show more content…
It was hypothesized that copper was to become hotter than water when the same heat energy is applied to both. However does not appear to be the case when observing the analyzed data. A possible explanation for this is when substances heat up, they begin to require more energy to continue heating because the space around the substance starts trying to equilibrate with it and cool it down, (http://www.tutorvista.com, 2015). Between copper calorimeter tests, there wasn’t enough time to wait for the copper calorimeter to cool. On the other hand, the water calorimeter had its water replaced between each test so its temperature was reset and ready to heat up quickly again. Since the data was based on the rise in temperature in the time of three minutes, the water still ended up having a higher temperature even though it has a larger specific heat …show more content…
The wind shield would be a design that both ensures a direct transfer of heat energy between the spirit lamp and the calorimeter with minimal interference, and doesn’t become an obstacle when the calorimeter needs to be lowered down onto the optimum section of the spirit lamp flame. In addition, multiple copper calorimeters would be used so they can be substituted after the temperature reading of one is completed and the temperature can be quickly reset. This way, both the temperatures of the copper calorimeter and the water calorimeter are reset after each test so they can both rise from room temperature. Alongside with this application, rather than just putting a thermometer in the water calorimeter, the thermometer should be held in the calorimeter in a way so that it doesn’t touch any walls on the inside and it is only coming into contact with the water. This way it records the temperature of the water only. With these changes applied, if the experiment were to be tested again, it would be possible to determine whether copper or water calorimeters heat up quicker.
These results give a good idea of the trends in properties of alcohols and they can be used to determine which are suitable for which purposes in industries today. The most efficient alcohols may be used as long as they’re not classified as unsafe, hazardous, or unsuitable for the task. With investigations like these,
There is an increase from methanol to ethanol, however the heat energy seems to have a decline when going on to propanol. This is because the flame …show more content…
It was hypothesized that copper was to become hotter than water when the same heat energy is applied to both. However does not appear to be the case when observing the analyzed data. A possible explanation for this is when substances heat up, they begin to require more energy to continue heating because the space around the substance starts trying to equilibrate with it and cool it down, (http://www.tutorvista.com, 2015). Between copper calorimeter tests, there wasn’t enough time to wait for the copper calorimeter to cool. On the other hand, the water calorimeter had its water replaced between each test so its temperature was reset and ready to heat up quickly again. Since the data was based on the rise in temperature in the time of three minutes, the water still ended up having a higher temperature even though it has a larger specific heat …show more content…
The wind shield would be a design that both ensures a direct transfer of heat energy between the spirit lamp and the calorimeter with minimal interference, and doesn’t become an obstacle when the calorimeter needs to be lowered down onto the optimum section of the spirit lamp flame. In addition, multiple copper calorimeters would be used so they can be substituted after the temperature reading of one is completed and the temperature can be quickly reset. This way, both the temperatures of the copper calorimeter and the water calorimeter are reset after each test so they can both rise from room temperature. Alongside with this application, rather than just putting a thermometer in the water calorimeter, the thermometer should be held in the calorimeter in a way so that it doesn’t touch any walls on the inside and it is only coming into contact with the water. This way it records the temperature of the water only. With these changes applied, if the experiment were to be tested again, it would be possible to determine whether copper or water calorimeters heat up quicker.
These results give a good idea of the trends in properties of alcohols and they can be used to determine which are suitable for which purposes in industries today. The most efficient alcohols may be used as long as they’re not classified as unsafe, hazardous, or unsuitable for the task. With investigations like these,