Embedded Files
Investigating Temperature Changes
Background Information and Keywords
Background Information and Keywords
Keywords
Keywords
- Exothermic- A reaction that gives out energy to the surroundings/ temperature increases
- Endothermic- A reaction that takes in energy from the surroundings/ temperature decreases
- Thermometer - A piece of equipment used to measure the temperature of substances
- Thermal Insulator - A substance that doesn't conduct heat or allow heat to enter or escape
Background Information
Background Information
When a reaction takes place chemical are broken and new chemical bonds are made. This is how chemicals react with each other to form new chemicals.
When this happens a reaction can be described as either exothermic or endothermic.
Exothermic reactions give out energy to the surroundings and the temperature increase ("exothermic" literally means "outwards""heat")
Endothermic reactions take energy in from the surroundings and the temperature decreases("endothermic" literally means "inward""heat")
Other things you need to be able to do
Other things you need to be able to do
To do the practical
To do the practical
Know how to measure temperature using a thermometer
Measure masses and volumes accurately using measuring cylinders and scales
Know how to work out the temperature difference of a reaction from the start and end temperatures
To handle the data and make conclusions
To handle the data and make conclusions
Know the difference between an exothermic and endothermic reaction in terms of temperature change
Know what an independent, dependent and control variable are
Know why experiments need to be fair
Know how to work out a mean for a set of data
Identify outliers/anomalies within a set of data
"How To Do It" Video
"How To Do It" Video
Watch this video to remind yourself how this practical is carried out.
What are the key steps to this practical?
What are the pieces of equipment called?
Why are these pieces of equipment used?
Diagrams
Diagrams
The cotton wool for this diagram is optional and is just stopping the cup from spilling. The chemicals reacting in the cup could be many different things. An acid + piece of metal, an acid + an alkali, an acid + a carbonate, etc...
Key Steps
Key Steps
Measure a volume of an acid/other liquid (e.g. 25cm3) using a measuring cylinder.
Place the acid in the polystyrene cup.
Place a thermometer in the acid and read the initial temperature.
Put the other reactant into the acid (metal, metal carbonate, alkali etc...) and put the lid on
Either measure the temperature at specific times OR measure the final temperature of the reaction.
Take away the inital temperature from the final temperature to find the temperature change.
Repeat the experiment as needed with different concentrations, volumes, masses of metal etc...
Key Questions from this Practical
Key Questions from this Practical
What is the independent variable in this practical (the thing that's changed)?
What is the dependent variable in this practical (the thing that's measured)?
What are the control variables for this practical (the things which are kept the same)?
How could the practical be improved?
Why is a polystyrene cup used instead of a beaker for this practical?
What would happen if the reaction didn't have a lid?
How would you work out the mean for this set of data?
How can you tell a reaction is exothermic or endothermic from this data?
Question Practice and Exam Questions
Question Practice and Exam Questions
Required Practicals Mastery Booklet - PAG 4 - Measuring Temperature Changes.pdfPAG 4: Mastery Question Booklet
PAG 4: Mastery Question Booklet
This Mastery Booklet is filled with questions and exam questions to help you master this core practical. All answers and mark schemes are attached at the end.
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