Investigating State Changes

Investigating State Changes

Aim:  To observe water as it changes state from solid to liquid and then to a gas.

Equipment:  A 250 mL beaker, thermometer, Bunsen burner, heatproof mat, tripod and gauze mat, stopwatch, retort stand and clamp and ice cubes

Method:  

1. Collect enough ice so that your beaker is half full and place the thermometer into it while you set up the rest of the equipment.

2. Set up the retort stand and clamp alongside the tripod and gauze mat.

3. Place the beaker of ice on the gauze mat and gently clamp the thermometer so that it is held upright and the scale is easy to see. The bottom of your thermometer should be low enough to still be covered by water when the ice melts, but not touching the bottom of the beaker.

4. Record the initial temperature of the ice in the date table below.

5. Light the Bunsen burner and start timing with the stop watch.

6. Measure and record the temperature every minute.

7. Continue measuring and recording the temperature until the water has been boiling for 2 - 3 minutes.

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1. Using the words 'particles' and 'energy' explain why the ice melts.
When the ice is heated, the particles begin to vibrate more. This increase in particle vibration makes the distance between the particles increase. As more heat is added the particles vibrate so much that they broke away from each other and the ice melts into a liquid.

2. Complete the diagram below by adding the name of the state change processes.

     ( a )  Melting                            ( b ) Evaporating
Solid ----------------------- Liquid ----------------------- Gas
     ( c )  Solidifying                      ( d ) Condensing


Results:

Time:           Temp ( Degrees )
0               -               5
1               -               5
2               -               10
3               -               19
4               -               18
5               -               26
6               -               39
7               -               59
8               -               75
9               -               90 
10             -               103
11             -               110


Discussion:  When the ice is heated, the particles begin to vibrate more. This increase in particle vibration makes the distance between the particles increase. As more heat is added, the particles vibrate so much that they broke away from each other and the ice melts.