Plan and design Lab (Draft 1)

Problem statement:
Methanol (CH3OH) and ethanol (CH3CH2OH) have both been proposed as bio-alcohol fuels of the
future. Both have advantages and disadvantages over fossil fuels, such as petrol and diesel. For instance,
both alcohols don’t need additives to improve performance. Alcohols also combust more completely to
produce carbon dioxide and water resulting in less smog producing carbon monoxide and nitrogen
oxides being emitted.
Methanol combustion: CH3OH + O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O + heat energy
Ethanol combustion: CH3CH2OH + 3O2 → 2 CO2 + 3 H2O + heat energy
Task: Design a plan to investigate which alcohol (methanol or ethanol) would be the best fuel for the
future.

Hypothesis:
If we burn the chemicals and then measure the heat produced by each of the alcohol,
Methanol would come out as the better fuel, based on researched information.

AIM:
To prove that methanol would be the better fuel than ethanol as an alternate energy source in the
future using ring stand and thermometer for measurement.

APPARTUS/MATERIALS:
 Safety goggles
 Lab coat
 Soda can
 Stirring rod
 Ring stand
 Graduated cylinder
 Thermometer
 Stopwatch
 Spirit bottles containing alcohols ( methanol and ethanol )

PROCEDURE:
1. Put on apron and safety goggles.
2. Obtain two spirit bottles; one with ethanol and one with methanol.
3. Punch holes in a soda can and stick a stirring rod through to hold it on the ring stand. Measure
100.0 mL of water in a 50mL graduated cylinder and pour it into the soda can. Put the soda can
on the ring stand.
4. Use a thermometer to measure the initial temperature of the water
5. Measure the mass of the spirit burner (with the wick but without the cap) and the ethanol.
6. Place the spirit burner on the stand about two centimeters below the soda can.
7. Light the wick and leave it burning for three minutes.
 8. After three minutes, move the can and put out the fire. Measure the final temperature of the
water. Take note of the temperature change. Measure the mass of the spirit burner without the
wick and record the mass of the alcohol burned (change in mass).
9. Clean the bottom of the soda can if blackened and replace the 100.0 mL of water.
10. Repeat steps 4-9 twice more with ethanol and with methanol three times.

VARIABLES:

Independent variable: Alcohol-methanol and ethanol.

Dependent variable: Heat energy released.
Controlled/Constant variables: Time.

DATA TO BE COLLECTED:
Table 1: Table Showing Changes in Mass and Temperature of Alcohols When Heated.

Initial Mass Final Mass Change in Initial temp Final Temp Change in
(g) (g) Mass (g) Temp

Ethanol 1

Ethanol 2

Ethanol 3

Methanol
1

Methanol
2

Methanol
3

Calculation for Table#1:

 Change in temperature = Final temperature -Initial temperature

 Change in Mass = Initial mass -Final mass

PREDICTED RESULTS:
Table 2: Table showing data processing of Ethanol and Methanol in comparison.

Change in Amount of Total Heat Heat released Heat ( J/g)

Alcohol mass (g) moles (mol) Released ( KJ) per mole
( KJ/mol)

Ethanol 1

Ethanol 2

Ethanol 3

Methanol 1

Methanol 2

Methanol 3

Calculation for Table#2:

Number of moles of alcohol burnt = Change in mass/molar mass (of

Ethanol/methanol).
*For molar mass, refer to a periodic table.

Total heat released = cm∆T

*Divide result by 1000 to convert J to kJ.

Heat released per mol = total heat released / number of moles burnt

Heat (J/g) = Total heat released (in Joules) / Change in mass

Limitation:
The initial masses of both alcohols were different which doesn’t fairly prove which alcohol is better
when burnt.

Sources of Error:
The spirit bottles were burning 2 centimeters below the soda can, and there was no way of keeping the
heat from escaping in the open air. This can lead to inaccurate temperature readings which can lead to
inaccurate results.

Assumptions:

The Methanol and Ethanol may have been contaminated if it were left open for a long period of time.