Energy and Changes of State
DeYoung, Robert Lee, Lucile Ferrell, Alisa
700 Oneida St. 16545 S. Hermitage 146 N. Central
Joliet, Il 60435 Markham, Il 60426 Chicago, Il 60644
1-815-723-0828 1-708-331-4142 1-312-921-5220
Objectives
Students will: 1) gain an understanding about energy and changes of state; 2)
read a thermometer; 3) collect and record data; 4) construct a graph; and 5)
interpret graphed data.
Equipment and Material
Five grams acetamide (or another low melting point solid) per group
250 mL beakers (2/group)
18x150 mm test tube (1/group)
test tube holder (1/group)
hot plate (1/group) A Bunsen burner, ring stand, iron ring, and wire gauze may be
used.
Ice cream maker
Ice cream mixture ingredients
Two quarts whole milk
Two cans condensed milk (Eagle brand)
One cup sugar
One half pint whipping cream
Two tablespoons vanilla flavoring
One quarter teaspoon salt
Four eggs
Ice
Rock salt
thermometers (2/group plus 2 for ice cream procedure)
Graph paper (1/student)
Recommended Strategies
Prepare an ice cream mixture. Recipe: Combine eggs, cream, sugar, and vanilla
in bowl and mix thoroughly with mixer. Pour into can, add condensed milk and stir
well. Add dairy milk to fill line on can and stir. Makes approx. 4 quarts.
Two thermometers will be used. One thermometer will measure the temperature of
the ice cream mixture. The second thermometer will measure the temperature of the
ice water. Select two students to collect and record the data on the chalk board.
Construct a data table for recording these temperatures against time.
Before setting up the ice cream maker, begin by measuring the temperature of
both the ice cream mixture before placing it in the ice water and the ice before
adding salt.
Set up the ice cream maker and begin recording the time in one minute intervals
of both temperatures. After the initial rapid temperature drop, the time interval may
be increased to two or three minutes.
While the data is being collected, the class will do the following activities:
1) Observations of changes of state. Procedure: a) Each group of students
should obtain the following: one 250 mL beaker, one test tube with 5 grams of
acetamide, one test tube holder, one hot plate. b) Add 150 mL of water to a 250 mL
beaker. c) Heat water until hot. d) Place test tube with acetamide in the beaker of
hot water. Record observations. e) When no further changes are observed, remove the
test tube from the hot water. Let the test tube cool. Record observations. (Both
procedures show changes of state. Discuss in terms of energy gained and lost and
changes in particle motion.)
2) Effect of salt on ice. Procedure: a) Each group of students should obtain
the following: two 250 mL beakers, two thermometers. b) Add equal amounts of ice to
both beakers. c) Record the temperature of the ice in both beakers. d) Add salt to
the ice in one beaker. e) Continue recording the temperature of the contents of both
beakers until there are no changes in temperature. f) Organize the data in a data
table. (The salt will cause the ice to melt faster. The temperature of the salt and
ice water mixture will drop below zero degrees Celsius. Discuss in terms of heat
transfer and particle motion.)
Construct a graph from the data collected.
Discuss the graphed data by relating it to the demonstration. Also use the class
as a model to show energy involved in changes of state at different points on the
graph. (Let the students represent particles of matter. Sitting in their chairs,
the students represent the orderly arrangement of particles in a solid. An increase
in the temperature of a solid will increase the vibrations of the particles and thus
their kinetic energy. As energy is added at the melting point, only the potential
energy of the particles is increased such that they will break loose from their fixed
positions and become more disorganized. Use the students to illustrate this. In the
liquid state energy added increases the kinetic energy. The particles are free to
slip and slide over one another and they will move back and forth at a faster rate.)
For a more advanced presentation, refer back to the demonstration and apply heat
calculations to the melting of the ice and to the changes of state. Apply freezing
point depression calculations to the salt and water combination.
Return to Chemistry Index