To find a pattern in the heat of combustion of number of fuels.

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Heats of Combustion of Alcohol

Mark Wong 11N

Aim:

To find a pattern in the heat of combustion of number of fuels.

Apparatus:

  • Clamp Stand
  • Copper Can
  • Thermometer
  • 6 different alcohols - methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol, pentan-1-ol and hexan-1-ol
  • Matches
  • Heat proof mat
  • Aluminum foil
  • Rubber band
  • 100ml of water – for each alcohol
  • Measuring cylinder
  • Measuring scale

Diagram:

Method:

  1. Collect and set up equipment as shown in diagram
  2. Collect the first alcohol on the list (methanol)
  3. Measure water to 100ml and pour into copper can
  4. Measure temperature of water and record on a table
  5. Measure whole weight of the alcohol excluding the cap of the bottle of alcohol and record the weight
  6. Light the alcohol with a match and stir the water inside repeatedly
  7. Stop experiment after the temperature has increased by 300c
  8. Reweigh the mass of the alcohol and record
  9. Repeat the test 3 times for a fair and meaningful result

10.Repeat the experiment with all the other alcohols

Variables/Fair Test:

In order to obtain a fair test the following will be done

  1. Use a measuring cylinder to measure 100ml of water]
  2. Use a measuring scale to measure the mass of each alcohol (excluding the cap provided with the bottle)
  3. Make sure each alcohol is experimented 3 times so that an average can be calculated for a more meaningful result
  4. Follow the order of alcohol according to the list (the order of the structures of the alcohols)
  5. Make sure the aluminum foil is covering the flame of the fuel as much as it can without being burnt
  6. Make sure each experiment is ended immediately when the temperature of the water rises up by 300c
  7. Make sure for each experiment the bottom part of the copper can is always 8cm above the flame of the burning fuel
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Results:

Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

Average from the 3 tests

Calculations:

Mass of water being heated - 100cm3 = 100g

Specific heat capacity of water – 4.18 J0c -1g1

Change in temperature of water - 300c

The following formulas were used to calculate the Energy change in water and the No. Of joules one gram of fuel produces

Amount of energy (J) given out by fuel = Q = mcT

Where:

Q= energy change in Joules

M=mass of water being heated in grams

C=specific heat capacity of water

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