Physics IA: Concentration of Salt

Physics IA: Concentration of Salt

Introduction

The goal of this experiment is to determine the relation between the specific heat
capacity of water and the concentration of salt in it. The idea for this experiment was
born when I was trying to make lemonade after a playing a sport. I mixed the salt with
water and wondered if the mixture would be warmer than a normal of glass of water if
left at room temperature. After playing sports, consumption of a cold liquid is needed to
decrease body temperature. However, when kept in a room, the liquid eventually cools
down due to absorption of environmental heat energy. Thus, it was decided to determine
whether the salt water mixture of a lemonade would cool down faster than a glass of
water.

Background Theory

Heat is energy that is transferred from one body to another as a result of a difference in
temperature. The specific heat capacity of a body is said to be the energy required to
increase the temperature of a unit mass of the body by one kelvin. The literature value of
the specific heat capacity of water is known to be 4200𝐽𝐾𝑔−1 𝐾 −1 . The literature value
of specific heat capacity of salt is 864 𝐽𝐾𝑔−1 𝐾 −1 .

In the experiment, the concentration of salt in water is increased and the specific heat
capacity of water is calculated for each of the different concentrations. The Principle of
Method of Mixtures.

Specific heat capacity can be calculated through the formula

𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑡

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where

Q represents the heat energy supplied to the body

m represents the mass of the body

c represents the specific heat capacity of the body

∆T represents the change in temperature

The heat energy supplied can be calculated using the formula

𝑄 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡

Where

Q represents the heat energy supplied to the body

V represents the voltage across the circuit

I represents the current flowing through the circuit in Ampere

t represents the time for which the heat energy was supplied in seconds

Research Question

How does the concentration of salt in water affect the specific heat capacity of the water?

Hypothesis
The specific heat capacity of water decreases proportionally with an increase in concentration
of salt.

Variables

Independent – concentration of salt in water

Dependent – specific heat capacity of water, final temperature

Controlled – initial temperature, mass of mixture, heat energy supplied

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Apparatus

- Calorimeter

- Water

- Graduated Cylinder

- Salt

- Voltmeter

- Ammeter

- Connecting wires

- Cotton rope

- Digital thermometer

- Teaspoon

- Rubber glove

- Digital Weighing Scale

Safety Risks
- Wear Rubber Gloves when using the connecting wires to ensure no electric shock
occurs.

Procedure
Measure a volume of 100 ml of water using the graduated cylinder

Raw Data
The heat energy supplied was calculated using the formula

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𝑄 = 𝑉𝐼𝑡

After substituting the values of V= 2, I=2 and t=600, the Heat energy supplied is calculated to
be

𝑄 = 2 ∗ 2 ∗ 600

𝑄 = 2400𝐽

The specific heat capacity of water was calculated using the formula

𝑄 = 𝑚𝑐∆𝑡

Therefore,after substituting the values we arrive at

2400
c=
0.1∗Δ𝑡

Sr No. Initial Final Difference Concentrati Heat Specific Heat Mass of

Temperat Temperat in on of salt Energy Capacity of mixture
ure ure temperatur (By % of Supplied Water ( (in g)
−1 −1
(in K) (In K) e (Δ𝑡) mixture) (in J) in𝐽𝐾𝑔 𝐾 )
1 298.1 303.8 5.7 0% 2400J 4210.52 100g
2 298.1 303.9 5.8 10% 2400J 4137.93 100g
3 298.1 304.1 6 20% 2400J 4000.00 100g
4 298.1 304.3 6.2 30% 2400J 3870.96 100g
5 298.1 304.6 6.5 40% 2400J 3692.30 100g

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References
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp0003914

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/sodium-chloride-water-d_1187.html

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