This laboratory looked at reaction kinetics. A thermometer was suspended in a large test tube with a clothespin so that it was not touching the sides or bottom. The thermometer was allowed to come to room temperature. 70-80 mL water was heated to between 75 and 80C and carefully poured into the large test tube until the test tube was at least 90 percent full. The system was allowed to come to equilibrium for a minute or two. The temperature rose a little, then began decreasing. Once it started decreasing, once the next whole number was reached, recordings were begun and this was time = 0. Recordings were continued noting the number of seconds it took for the temperature to drop 2oC until the temperature had dropped a total of 12oC. Recordings were then made for decreases in temperature in 5oC increments until the temperature was within 5oC of the original room temperature.
The temperature was treated as if it was a concentration of heat. To analyze the data, the difference between each recorded temperature value and the original room temperature was calculated:
T(temperature as concentration) = TH20 - Troom
This difference was recorded in the data table.
From the graphs, it was determined whether the order was 0, 1, or 2. The slope of the line was determined to give k = the rate constant.
Data Table Showing Cumulative Time With temperature Changes
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