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.
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.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller homezoe07. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $21.61. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.