8Ie/2 Cooling wax 2

8
In this experiment you will measure the temperature of I
a liquid as it cools down and turns back into a solid.

Apparatus

Take care! The wax
e

● Beaker of hot water ● Thermometer will be hot. Use a test

● Test tube rack
● Tube of hot, waxy liquid
● Test tube holder
● Stopclock tube holder to move
the wax from the hot
● Eye protection
water into the rack.

Prediction
1 What do you think will happen to the temperature of the liquid as it cools down?
2 Sketch a graph of temperature against time to show what you expect to happen.
3 Will the temperature carry on falling when the liquid is changing into a solid?
Give a reason for your answer if you can.
4 Explain what will happen to the particles of the wax when the liquid freezes.

Planning
5 Write a method for your experiment. You will need to say how often you will
measure the temperature so that you get enough results, and how you will make
your investigation safe.
6 Design a results table to show the time, the temperature and the state of the
substance. Don’t forget that you will need to take a reading at the start of the
experiment (at time zero). Now carry out your experiment.

Recording your results

7 Fill in your results table neatly.
8 Draw a graph of temperature against time. Draw a line of best fit. Is it a straight
line, a curve, or a bit of both?

Considering your results/conclusions

9 Does the graph look like your prediction? If not, describe how it is different.
10 Explain what happens to the temperature of the liquid as it turns back into a solid.
11 What is the freezing point of the substance?
12 What would happen to the temperature of the wax if you left the tube to cool for
a long time? Would the temperature carry on going down for ever?
13 Sketch a graph to show what you think would happen to the temperature if you
heated the wax up again until it had all melted.

S planning, observing, presenting, considering, knowledge

Exploring Science for QCA Copymaster File 8 439 © Pearson Education Limited 2002