Optimizing Ethanol's Heat Production
Table of Contents
Procedures:
Trial 1:
1) 3mL of ethanol was measured and poured into the burner.
2) 75mL of water was then measured and poured into the beaker; a thermometer was also placed into the beaker.
3) The beaker was then placed on top of a tripod with the burner being placed directly under the tripod and the beaker.
4) After all the preparations, the sample was lighted on fire with a long wooden stick.
5) Temperature of the water in the beaker was measured every 30 seconds and recorded along with the total time that the sample burnt for.
6) After the flame died out, the apparatus was then rinsed and cleaned and prepared for the next sample.
7) The same set of apparatus was used for every sample in order to maintain consistent and accurate results.
8) Step 1 to 6 were repeated for following samples:
- 95% ethanol and 5% hydrogen peroxide
- 95% ethanol and 5% water
- 90% ethanol and 10% hydrogen peroxide
- 90% ethanol and 10% water
- 85% ethanol and 15% hydrogen peroxide
- 85% ethanol and 15% water
- 80% ethanol and 20% hydrogen peroxide
- 80% ethanol and 20% water
- 75% ethanol and 25% hydrogen peroxide
- 75% ethanol and 25% water
Trial 2:
2) 10mL of ethanol was measured and poured into the burning container.
3) The container was then put into a steel pan filled with 105mL of water and the pan was placed on top of a cup.
4) 45mL of water was also measured and placed into a beaker which was placed on top of the sample with the use of a tripod.
5) After all the preparations, the sample was lighted on fire with a long wooden stick.
6) The final temperature of the water in the beaker and the pan was measured and recorded as well as the total time that the sample burnt for.
7) After the flame died out, the apparatus was then rinsed and cleaned and prepared for the next sample.
8) Step 1 to 6 were repeated for following samples:
- 90% ethanol and 10% hydrogen peroxide
- 90% ethanol and 10% water
- 80% ethanol and 20% hydrogen peroxide
- 80% ethanol and 20% water
- 70% ethanol and 30% hydrogen peroxide
- 70% ethanol and 30% water
- 60% ethanol and 40% hydrogen peroxide
- 60% ethanol and 40% water
- 50% ethanol and 50% hydrogen peroxide
- 50% ethanol and 50% water
