9/12/21 Heating and Cooling Investigation C.

Zuidevel
Stage 2 Physics Kyle Ivory 11R

Background –

The branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. The
subject matter of physics, distinguished from that of chemistry and biology, includes
mechanics, heat, light and other radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure
of atoms. The reason the topic of heat changing conductivity in a solution of water (H 20)
and normal table salt, Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is that heating and cooling is a very important
part in physics as it involves the Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy change as well as
convection and electrolysis. All of these are referenced in the” Pearsons, M, 2008, Physics
Content and Contexts Units 2A&B, Pearsons, Port Melbourne, Vic” textbook. Heating and
cooling is generally it is used when referring to the change in kinetic energy in certain
substances. Kinetic energy is the measure of the AVERAGE movement of particles in a
certain given substance divided by its volume. Electrolysis is a Chemical decomposition
produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions. Both of
these revolve around the basic principles of how the universe works and the set rules that it
follows that humans are currently trying to understand. All of these go under the one name.
Physics.

Research Question –

To investigate at least one factor that may affect the electrical conductivity of an ionic
solution. The factor possible independent variables would be the temperature of the
solution, the time (does the solution lose any conductivity over time), the charges of ions
(higher valence may mean higher conductivity), concentration of the solution (higher salt-to-
water ratio means higher conductivity, when does it stop increasing), anions in solution
(polyatomic ions have more electrons in particle so more conductivity).

The variable I have chosen is the increase in temperature of the aqueous solution.

Hypothesis –

With the increase of temperature of the aqueous solution the conductivity will also
increase. It will have an even increase throughout the heating stage and begin to drop out
or decrease as the solution begins to boil and water vapour pockets disrupt the circuit.

Prediction –

When the solution is heated it will cause the molecules in the aqueous solution to gain
kinetic energy which will make the electrons move faster and creating a faster electric
current. This may be because there is less lost or because they may start to fractionally boil
causing it to expand. Once the liquid boils though it will start to decrease as there will be
bubbles of water vapour that to not conduct electricity for they have no NaCl in them which
is what causes the electrons to move.

Materials –

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Stage 2 Physics Kyle Ivory 11R

 200ml beaker
 500ml beaker
 40g of sodium chloride (NaCl)
 150+200ml of water(H20)
 12V AC power supply
 4 electric cables
 0.5 volt light bulb
 Amp meter
 Thermometer
 Tripod
 Wire mesh mat
 Heat mat
 Bunsen Burner
 Natural gas supply
 Matches
 Two metal rods
 Scales (to .01 grams)

Make sure all equipment is correctly working

Method –

Safety Precautions

 Wear safety glasses at ALL time

 NaCl + electricity = Na+ and Cl2-, Cl2- (Chlorine Gas) is HIGHLY TOXIC to humans, it has
accumulative effects and is irritating to the respiratory system, it is also a strong
oxidizer which may react with flammable materials. Conduct experiment in a well
VENTILATED area and DO NOT inhale fumes.
 Use precaution at all times especially when dealing with the Bunsen burner and/or
matches.

Set up experiment as follows:

Tripod

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Stage 2 Physics Kyle Ivory 11R

The solution is to be made up of 40 ±0.01g of NaCl dissolved into 150 ±5ml of H20.

In this experiment the independent variable is the temperature of the solution. The
dependant variable is the conductivity of the solution. Some of the controlled variables are
the output of heat from the Bunsen burner, the mass of water and the concentration of
water vs. Salt. The starting temperature is to be room temperature which at the time was
23°C.

Note:

When setting up ensure a firm connection between electric cables to ensure that the circuit
is complete. Ensure that the AC power supply is switched to the 12V setting. Ensure that
Bunsen burner hole is aligned to OPEN to create a blue flame. For Amp meter set it to the
largest scale then work down to a reasonable level so change can be easily recorded.

Results Table –

With electrodes touching, current = 18 ±0.125mA at room temperature (23 ±0.5°C)

Temperature (°C) Visible Change Milliamps (mA)

23 ±0.5 Bubbles from negative rod, 14 ±0.125
yellow stream (Chlorine)
from positive rod. Chlorine
mainly staying in water with
little escaping.
45 ±0.5 Chlorine mainly increasing 14.5 ±0.125
and darkening colour of
solution.
55 ±0.5 Darkening further due to 15 ±0.125
chlorine increasing. Brown
precipitant of sodium (Na)
forming
65 ±0.5 Darkening of liquid due to 15.25 ±0.125
chlorine concentration
increasing. More brown solid
precipitant forming.
75 ±0.5 Darkening due to chlorine 15.25 ±0.125
and more precipitant.
Outside beakers water starts
to boil.
85 ±0.5 Inside beaker starts to 22 ±0.125
rapidly boil. Within seconds

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Stage 2 Physics Kyle Ivory 11R

the mA rating has jumped

higher than the point of
where the conductivity was
when the electrodes were
touching. Due to movement
of solution due to boiling
brown precipitant has
broken up and spread out.
Processing Data –

25 milliAmps vs. Degree's Celcius

20
Conductivity
(±0.125 mA)
15

10

5
85
0 Temperature (±0.5 °C)
0 5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85

The uncertainty of the temperature is ±0.5°C as the thermometer is measured to the

nearest degree. For the Amp meter the uncertainty is ±0.125mA as it is read to 0.25mA.

Discussion –

The experiment had two beakers instead of one so that when the water in the outside
beaker heats up it in turn heats up the inside one but because of the heat the water
circulates on the outside one creating an even heating of the inner beaker instead of the
only heat coming from the bottom where the Bunsen burner is placed. This was to help
results stay even and the temperature throughout the inner beaker remain relatively the
same. The results show that with the increase in temperature the conductivity also
increased on a steady gradient. It came to a flat as the water approached the boiling stage
and as it hit the boiling stage the conductivity leaped up 6.75 mA which was higher than the
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resultant figure from touching the two electrodes together. The light bulb was also at its
brightest. Due to the evaporation of liquid changing the concentration it was decided that
any further results would be inaccurate. The boiling had just started and not much had
escaped by the time the mA’s dramatically increased. Looking back timing the whole
experiment would have also been a good idea as well as recording the temperature for the
outside beakers water. Another prac along this line is to have two beakers of the same
solution and heat both and time how long it takes them to boil. One with the circuit in place
the other not. The water did start boiling at 85°C and that is most likely due to the fact it
consisted of H20 with separated and joined Na+ and Cl2- atoms.

Conclusion –

As the electrodes were placed in the water immediately the NaCl started to separate with
the Na+ gathering in solid clumps around the negative electrode and Cl 2- green/yellow gas
being mixed through and colouring the solution and slowly escaping it. As the temperature
increased the Amp meter read changes of about 0.25 to 0.5 mA per 10°C between 55 and
75. But from 75 to 85 where the outside AND inside were at boiling point it jumped from
15.25 to 22mA and the light globe was brighter than it was when the two electrodes were
touching.

The hypothesis, “With the increase of temperature of the aqueous solution the
conductivity will also increase. It will have an even increase throughout the heating stage
and begin to drop out or decrease as the solution begins to boil and water vapour pockets
disrupt the circuit.” Was not completely supported. It was supported in the case that it will
increase rather than decrease with an increased temperature but not supported in the fact
that once it had started to boil it had starts to increase the conductivity dramatically. The
theory of the increase on electricity is called electrolysis. This involves ions to move to the
electrode of the opposite charge. If you heat up the electrolyte (the H 20 + NaCl solution) the
ions will move faster therefore getting to the electrodes quicker and increasing the overall
conductivity of the solution. This was evident in the experiment.

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Bibliography –

Internet

 Wikipedia, 2011, ’Chlorine’, viewed 9/04/2011 11:19:24 PM,

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine>
 Google,2011, ‘Define: Physics’, Viewed 9/04/2011 12:13:30 PM
<https://encrypted.google.com/search?
hl=en&source=hp&biw=667&bih=639&q=define
%3A+physics&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=f&oq=>
 Yahoo7Answers, 2011, ‘How come heating an aqueous solution of NaCl and H20
increases conductivity?’, viewed 10/04/2011 11:01:43 AM
<http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110408233046AAVQL1I>
 Yahoo7Answers, 2011, ‘Is this possible? NaCl + H20 heated and made into a part of a
circuit?’, viewed 10/04/2011 6:40:39 PM
<http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnUR402faPH1wbhT7OU63.7h5gt.;_ylv
=3?qid=20110410022300AAEHd6i>
 Google, 2011, ‘Physics – Google dictionary’, viewed11/04/2011 8:13:51
PM,<http://www.google.com.au/search?
hl=en&q=physics&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=Xb2iTfGTHMGrcazckYEC&ved=0CB4QkQ4>

Books

 Pearsons. M, 2008, Physics Content and Contexts Units 2A&B, Pearsons, Port
Melbourne, Vic

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