PRACTICAL Name:

27 The functions of perspiration

You need:
■ thermometers ■ cotton wool ■ small beakers of water and alcohol

Method
1 Wave your hand backwards and forwards in front of you.
Does it feel warmer or cooler?
2 Swab a little water onto the back of one hand with cotton
wool and wave it backwards and forwards again. What does
the wet part feel like compared with the dry parts?
Note any feelings to do with temperature sense.
3 Dry your hand, then swab a little alcohol onto it with cotton
wool. Wave it backwards and forwards again. What does the
alcohol-treated part feel like compared with the dry parts?
Note any feelings to do with temperature sense.
Does the alcohol give you a sensation which is different from
water?
4 What conclusion can you draw at this stage of the
experiment?
5 Obtain three thermometers. Record the temperature of each.
Wrap the bulbs of all three thermometers in a thin layer of
cotton wool. Tie it in place with cotton. Leave the thermometers
to acclimatise for five minutes, then record the temperature
reading of each.
6 Take one thermometer (with dry cotton wool) and wave it for
one minute, then record the temperature reading. Take another
thermometer, dip it into water, wave it for one minute, then
record the temperature reading. Take a third thermometer, dip it
in alcohol, wave it for one minute, then record the temperature Extension
A chemist has invented a
reading.
new, harmless liquid that
evaporates quickly. She
Questions
wants to sell it in swabs
a How do the results with a thermometer dipped in water and
which people can use to
alcohol compare with those from the thermometer covered
wipe themselves when
with dry cotton wool?
they are too hot.
b How do the results of the thermometer experiment help Design an experiment to
explain the results from treating skin with water and alcohol? compare the effectiveness
c Alcohol evaporates more quickly than water. Use this of this invention with a
information to explain results from both experiments. What wet cloth.
do these results tell you about the function of perspiration?

Your teacher will be looking for:

■ careful and safe use of the apparatus given HAZARD WARNING
■ accurate observation
Alcohol is highly flammable.
■ good presentation of results KEEP AWAY from naked flame.
■ sensible conclusions WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute