cooling curve expt

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smeee
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Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Technician
School: LaSalle Catholic College
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cooling curve expt

Post by smeee »

Does anyone have a good expt for a cooling curve expt ?
Maybe dripping/lard/candle wax. We are trying for an "angular" curve rather than "curvy" one ( if that makes sense )
We tried Salicylic acid but didn't get a good result.
Any ideas ??
Ta
JelJane
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Joined: 18 Jun 2009, 11:58
State/Location: NZ

Re: cooling curve expt

Post by JelJane »

Not sure what you mean by angular exactly but you could try stearic acid. Have a look at the graph here http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesiz ... es_5.shtml
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Ocker
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State/Location: NSW

Re: cooling curve expt

Post by Ocker »

It will always be a curve as when cooling the temp differance to ambient gets less so heat emited is less/Slower
In industry they have an instrument called a "Tech Tip" which is a cup with a thermocouple in it, connected to a recorder producing a cooling curve of molten metal, by the shape of the curve they can say what elements make up the alloy.
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ird
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Re: cooling curve expt

Post by ird »

paraDICHLOROBENZENE is best, :yuck: but must be performed in fume hood.

STEARIC ACID is safest. \:D/
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smeee
Posts: 617
Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Technician
School: LaSalle Catholic College
Suburb: Bankstown
State/Location: NSW

Re: cooling curve expt

Post by smeee »

Thank you all for the tips.
This is for a university lecturer. After all the research I did, with your help, he decided to go with paraffin wax heated in a water bath so its pretty safe.
Some of these uni students haven't done science since Year 10. What chance will their students have ? 8O
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