Abstract:

Lab Assignment 7: Heat of Fusion (Hands-on)

Gabriela Romero, Jasmine Henley, Ian Kunst, Michelle Chiu, Darya Metelitsa, Christine Chen

The objective of this lab is to determine the latent heat of fusion for water through mixtures. In
this experiment we used a calorimeter with a stirrer, weighing scales, 50degree celsius
thermometer, beaker, melting ice, paper towels, beaker and water. In this experiment we
measured the temperature of the water while stirring it. We get several ice cubes and dry it with
paper towels. Afterwards, we immediately add several ice cubes into the water and continue
stirring. We added ice until the temperature of the water completely melted the ice and the
temperature of the water is 10 to 15 c below room temperature. Afterwards we reweigh the
mixture and calculate the heat of fusion. For the three trials, we found latent heat values of
79.69 J/kg 78.995 J/kg , and 80.84 J/kg. We repeat the experiment two more times for trial two
and three. For our data, reasonable estimates of precision of temperature rise of water was
around +/- 2.5%, the mass of ice was +/- 1.5%. With this the estimate for percent precision with
Lf is +/- 2.9 %. Some errors that would be introduced by using ice cubes directly taken from a
refrigerator would be because the temperature of the ice is not 0 degrees when it comes out
from the refrigerator. This would result in the value found for Lf to be too large. In order to
prevent errors, we were asked to dry the ice with a towel before adding it into the water; so that
extra water would not be added to the solution.

Data table Trial #1 Trial #2 Trial #3

Mass of resulting 157g 154g 153g

solution

Mass of water and 127g 126g 124g

calorimeter

Mass of calorimeter 4g 4g 4g
=m1

Mass of water =mw 123g 122g 120g

Mass of ice =M 34g 32g 33g

Mass of stirrer = m2 8g 8g 8g

Initial temperature 23c 21c 24 c

=t1
Final temperature =t2 2c 1c 4c

Latent heat of fusion 79.69 J/kg 78.995 J/kg 80.84 J/kg

= Lf

Questions
1. Give reasonable estimates of the precision in percent with wich
● +/- 2.5% for temperature rise
● +/- 1.5% for mass of ice
● LF : +/- 2.9 %

2. The temperature of the ice is not 0 degrees since it is directly in front of the refrigerator.
Lf will be too large. we were asked to dry the ice with a towel before adding it to the
water because extra water would be added to the solution