Physics IA: Concentration of Salt

Physics IA: Concentration of Salt

Introduction
Physics as a subject has always fascinated me. Seemingly complicated theorems and
equations, that have taken the very best of scientists ages to decipher, manifest
themselves in everyday objects so effortlessly. From the falling of a small pin to the
collision of entire galaxies, the presence of the physical sciences is omnipresent. Physics
as a subject is so un-escapable in life that every change that has taken place in this
universe since the start of time can be directly attributable to one or more of its concepts.

The idea for this experiment was born when I was trying to make lemonade after playing
a football match. After playing sports, consumption of a cold drink is needed to decrease
body temperature. However, when kept in a room, the drink eventually cools down due
to absorption of heat energy in the environment. To make lemonade, I began to mix the
salt with water and wondered if the amount of salt in the water would make it warmer
than a normal of glass of water if left at room temperature. Thus, it was decided to
determine the optimum amount of salt, if any, needed to ensure that the drink would stay
at the minimum temperature for a given time period.

I linked this idea of mine to the concept of specific heat capacity which we had learnt in
our Physics HL class under the topic Heat. Since specific heat capacity conveyed how
much heat energy a substance could absorb for a unit mass, I realized that a substance
with higher specific heat capacity would also cool down slower. Thus, I decided to
explore how the specific heat capacity of my lemonade changed with different
percentages of salt in it, which eventually became the basis for my research question.

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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
−1 −1
the specific heat capacity of water is known to be 4200JKg
! K . The literature value
of specific heat capacity of salt is 864 !JKg−1K −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

! = mc ∆ t
Q

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

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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

Apparatus

- Calorimeter

- Water

- Graduated Cylinder

- Salt

- Voltmeter

- Ammeter

- Connecting wires

- Cotton rope

- Digital thermometer

- Teaspoon

- Rubber glove

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- Digital Weighing Scale

- Battery Eliminator

Safety Risks

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

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

2. Pour the water measured into the copper vessel of the calorimeter

3. Record the initial temperature of the water using the digital thermometer

4. Connect the voltmeter and ammeter to the battery eliminator and switch on the
power generator.

5. Switch on the power source for a duration of 10 minutes while ensuring that the
voltage is 2 Volts and the current is 2 Amperes.

6. At the end of 10 minutes, record the final temperature of the water using the digital
thermometer.

Data Analysis

The heat energy supplied was calculated using the formula

! = VIt
Q

After substituting the values of V= 2 ± 0.2 V, I=2 ± 0.2 A and t=600 ± 0.01 s, the Heat energy
supplied is calculated to be

! = 2*2*600
Q

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Q
! = 2400 J

The uncertainty in the value of Q was calculated in the following manner: (CHANGE THIS

∆Q = ± (0.20+0.20+0.01)

∆Q = ± 0.41

! = 2400  ±  0.41 J
Therefore, Q

The specific heat capacity of water was calculated using the formula

Q
! = mc ∆ t

Q
c=!
m*Δt
Therefore, after substituting the values we arrive at

2400
c=!
0.1*Δt

The uncertainty in the value of c was calculated in the following manner:

Δc ΔQ Δm Δt
! = +  +  
c Q m t

Δc
=  0.00017 + 0.0001 + 0.00001666666
c
Δc = c* 0.00029
For each case, the difference in temperature (!Δt) was substituted to calculate the specific
heat capacity.

Raw Data Table

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Sr Concentra Heat Time Initial Final Difference Specific

No. tion of salt Energy taken Temperatu Temperat in Heat
(By % of Supplied (in re ure temperatur Capacity of
mixture) (in J) seconds) (in K) (In K) e (!Δt) Water (in
!JKg−1K −1)
1 0% 2400J 600s 298.1 303.8 5.7 4210.52
2 10% 2400J 600s 298.1 303.9 5.8 4137.93
3 20% 2400J 600s 298.1 304.1 6 4000.00
4 30% 2400J 600s 298.1 304.3 6.2 3870.96
5 40% 2400J 600s 298.1 304.6 6.5 3692.30

Processed Data Table

Sr Concentr Heat Time Initial Final Difference Specific Heat

No. ation of Energy taken Temperat Tempera in Capacity of
salt Supplied (in ure ture temperatur Water(in
(By % of (in J) seconds) (in K) (In K) e (!Δt)
mixture) &JKg−1K −1)
± 0.1 K ± 0.1 K ± 0.2 K
1 0% 2400 ± 600.00 ± 298.10 ± 303.80 5.7 ± 0.2 4210.52 ±
0.41J 0.01 s 0.10 K ± 0.10 1.22
K
K &JKg−1K −1
2 10% 2400 ± 600 ± 298.1 ± 303.9 ± 5.8 ± 0.2 4137.93 ±
0.41J 0.01 s 0.1 K 0.1 K 1.20
K
&JKg−1K −1
3 20% 2400 ± 600 ± 298.1 ± 304.1 ± 6 ± 0.2 K 4000.00 ±
0.41J 0.01 s 0.1 K 0.1 K 1.16
&JKg−1K −1
4 30% 2400 ± 600 ± 298.1 ± 304.3 ± 6.2 ± 0.2 3870.96 ±
0.41J 0.01 s 0.1 K 0.1 K 1.12
K
&JKg−1K −1
5 40% 2400 ± 600 ± 298.1 ± 304.6 ± 6.5 ± 0.2 3692.30 ±
0.41J 0.01 s 0.1 K 0.1 K K 1.07
!J Kg−1K −1

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Data Visualization (enter graph)

Conclusion
The results of the experiment indicate that as the concentration of salt in water increases,
the specific heat capacity of the water decreases. Water without any salt is found to have
higher specific heat capacity than water with salt. Therefore, water without any salt cools
down slower and is optimum to ensure that the drink would stay at the minimum
temperature in a given time period.

Limitations
• The copper vessel of the calorimeter could have been slightly dirty, and contained
dust and other particles which would have affected the temperature change (!Δt)
calculated, and hence the value of specific heat capacity of water that was
calculated.
• Parallax error could have occurred while measuring the volume of water using the
graduated cylinder.
• Human reaction time would have affected the time at which the battery eliminator
was switched off, and therefore affected the value of the temperature change (!Δt).
• The salt may not have fully dissolved into the water and thus affected the value of
specific heat capacity of water.
• Some heat may have been lost to environment from the calorimeter, which would
affect the values of temperature change and specific heat capacity of water.

Improvements

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• The copper vessel of the calorimeter could be cleaned using alcohol swabs to ensure that
there are no other particles remaining in it.
• The measurement marking of the graduated cylinder should be observed perpendicularly
when measuring the level of water. The volume should be measured by observing the
lower meniscus of the graduated cylinder.
• An arduino module could be used along with motorised switch to ensure that the battery
eliminator switches off automatically at the given time period.
• The temperature of the water could be increased first to increase solubility of salt in
water, before letting the water settle to the initial temperature.


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

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/spht.html

https://www-thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/people/SteveSimon/condmat2012/LectureNotes2012.pdf

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

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610217310342

https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Chemistry-Second-Edition/r18/section/17.4/

http://www.iun.edu/~cpanhd/C101webnotes/matter-and-energy/specificheat.html

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