ERIC Number: EJ829109
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Aug
Pages: 2
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
An Inexpensive Solution Calorimeter
Kavanagh, Emma; Mindel, Sam; Robertson, Giles; Hughes, D. E. Peter
Journal of Chemical Education, v85 n8 p1129-1130 Aug 2008
We describe the construction of a simple solution calorimeter, using a miniature bead thermistor as a temperature-sensing element. This has a response time of a few seconds and made it possible to carry out a thermometric reaction in under a minute, which led to minimal heat losses. Small temperature changes of 1 K associated with enthalpies of solution or enthalpies of neutralization can be measured with accuracy better than 1%. The degree of accuracy depended on how many measurements were made and gave the student an opportunity to think about different sources of error. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Reaction Time, Heat, Laboratory Experiments, Undergraduate Students, Undergraduate Study, College Science, Thermodynamics, Measurement, High School Students, Introductory Courses, Measurement Equipment, Computer Software, Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts
Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A