Name ________________________________________
Pd ____
Date __________________
Chemistry: Calorimetry Investigation
Informal Lab Report: You will work as a lab group to complete this investigation in the lab. However, each student
will complete the data analysis, conclusion and submit his or her own informal lab report. Each student will
receive an individual grade for this investigation. The informal lab report consists of, in order, this handout with all
the questions answered, lab note sheet(s) and scientific model.
Objectives (aka Research Questions)
1. What is the temperature of a “blue” Bunsen burner flame?
2. What is the temperature of a “yellow” Bunsen burner flame?
Hypotheses
Use your knowledge of chemistry to predict the answers for two research questions. Write these in the
appropriate section of your Lab Note sheet(s).
Pre-Lab Questions
You will use a lab technique known as calorimetry to answer the research questions. Use your knowledge of
energy and how it flows between objects to answer the questions below.
1. What happens when a room temperature object is placed in a hot flame?
2. Which object loses energy and which object gains energy?
3. What mechanism transfers the energy between the two objects?
4. If the colder object is left in the flame long enough, how does the temperature of the object compare to the
temperature of the flame?
5. What happens when a hotter object is placed in room temperature water?
6. Which object loses energy and which object gains energy?
7. What mechanism transfers the energy between the two objects?
8. If the hotter object is left in the water long enough, what happens to the temperature of the object and the
water?
Equipment & Materials
 Steel nails
 Water
 Nichrome wire
 Stirring rod
 Digital balance
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Thermometer
Ring stand w/ ring
Bunsen burner
Calorimeter
Procedure
CAUTION: ALL METAL OBJECTS, INCLUDING THE RING STAND, WILL BECOME
TOO HOT TO TOUCH!
1. Measure and record the mass of a steel nail.
2. Attach the nail to the nichrome wire.
3. Fill a calorimeter with about 100g of room temperature water from the large
plastic jug. Record the mass of water.
4. Measure and record the temperature of the water.
5. Turn on the Bunsen burner and adjust the air and gas valves to produce an
all blue flame.
6. Place the Bunsen burner under the nail so the nail is immersed in the flame.
Heat the nail for 5 minutes.
7. Turn off the Bunsen burner and move it off to the side. CAREFULLY raise the
calorimeter until the nail is completely immersed in the water.
8. CAREFULLY stir the water making sure not to touch the HOT nichrome wire.
Measure the water temperature every 30 seconds. Once the temperature
has leveled off, record the temperature.
9. Pour out the water. Do not touch the nichrome wire or ring stand because it may still be very hot.
10. Perform a second trial by repeating steps #3 through #9.
11. Perform a third and fourth trial by repeating steps #3 through #9 using an all yellow Bunsen burner flame
instead of a blue flame.
Data
Create data tables in the appropriate section of your Lab Note sheet(s) to record your independent, dependent
and control variables. Remember to organize your data in the table, number each table (Table 1, etc) and give
each table a descriptive title.
Data Analysis
Show your work, including correct units and sig figs, for all your calculations.
1. Calculate the amount of energy that flows into the water for each of the four trials?
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
2. What does the Law of Conservation of Energy tell us about the amount of energy leaving the hot object and
the amount of energy entering the water?
3. Calculate the initial temperature of the hot nail for each of the four nails?
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
4. What is the average temperature of the blue Bunsen burner flame?
5. What is the average temperature of the yellow Bunsen burner flame?
Conclusions
1. Create written, visual, graphical and mathematical explanations to answer the research questions. You should
write these explanations in the Scientific Model graphic organizer.
2. Discuss the sources of error in this investigation and suggest ways to reduce the error in the future.
3. Write another research question that could be investigated using the calorimetry lab technique. Write the
procedure and set up the data table for this experiment.