Chem 73.

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PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY
2nd Semester, S.Y. 2016-2017

Formal Report

Activity No. 5

DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE ZERO

Title

Name: DINGCONG, ROGER JR. G. Date Submitted: May 31 , 2017

SORINO, ERIKA D.

Report Rating:
Rating Instructor’s Rating
Abstract 10%
Introduction 10%
Experimental Method 5%
Data and Calculations 50%
Discussion of Results with Answers to Questions 15%
Conclusion 10%
References
Total Rating 100%
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Instructor’s Signature:
 DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE ZERO

Name: DINGCONG, ROGER JR. G. Date : May 31, 2017

SORINO, ERIKA D.

Abstract

Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature at which all molecular motion stops. Since molecular
motion is dependent of pressure, molecular motion only stops when zero pressure is obtained. Because
pressure varies linearly with temperature by the ideal gas law, the temperature at zero pressure can be
determined by extrapolating a line using values of pressure at various temperatures in a constant-volume
container. The purpose of this experiment is to determine absolute zero through graphical representations
of the direct relationship between pressure and temperature. Fitting the temperature versus pressure
data to a straight line gives an intercept experimental value of absolute zero.

I Introduction
Absolute zero is defined as the temperature at which matter does not move. Even subatomic vibrations at
absolute zero are put to a grinding halt. Since pressure in this experiment is caused by the movement of a
gas, the pressure would cease to exist when the gas stops moving. Thus, absolute zero is the temperature
corresponding to zero pressure of the extrapolated linear relationship. The lower the temperature, the
lower the pressure inside of the sphere. If the exact values were plotted out, a linear relationship would
be apparent. Extrapolating this line to the point where there would be no pressure yields absolute zero,
which is about -273.15 ◦ C.

II Experimental Method
Keeping the volume constant, measure the pressure and temperature in the test tube for temperatures
from zero to about 100 ◦ C. The test tube is placed in a bath of water, whose temperature is controlled by
adding ice to the bath. The temperature of the bath is measured along with its corresponding volumes
using values derived by heating the water bath to 80 ◦ C, and reading a volume-temperature pair at
5-degree interval until the final value of 50 ◦ C. At that point, bath will be cooled to below 5 ◦ C and
volume-temperature reading will be recorded, along with the corresponding barometric pressure.

III Data and Calculations

The barometric pressure observed is 765 mmHg. Given the vapor pressure of water at different temper-
ature, shown in the table below, the pressure of the trapped air is calculated as shown below;

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 Pair = Ptotal − PH2 O
Pair = 765mmHg − 713.16mmHg
Pair = 51.84mmHg

From this result, the volume of air can be calculated as shown below.
Vtotal (Pair ) 10mL(51.84mmHg)
Vair = Ptotal = 765mmHg = 0.68mL

The same calculations were done for the other data.

T (◦ C) Vtotal (mL) Pvap (mmHg) Pair (mmHg) Vair (mL)

98 10 713.16 51.84 0.68

93 7.2 596.06 168.94 1.59
88 5.8 491.66 273.34 2.07
83 5.3 400.6 364.4 2.52
78 5.2 327.3 437.7 2.98

73 4.8 265.7 499.3 3.13

68 4.6 214.2 550.8 3.31

63 4.5 171.4 593.6 3.49

58 4.4 136.1 628.9 3.62

53 4.3 107.2 657.8 3.70

48 4.25 83.7 681.3 3.79

43 4.15 64.8 700.2 3.80

38 4.0 49.0 716.0 3.74

33 3.95 37.7 727.3 3.76

28 3.8 28.4 736.6 3.66

23 3.7 21.1 743.9 .60

18 3.6 15.5 749.5 3.53

13 3.55 11.2 753.8 3.50

8 3.5 8.1 756.9 3.46

3 3.4 5.7 759.3 3.37

0 3.3 4.6 760.4 3.28

Using linear regression, the line that best fit describes the relationship between Vair and Pair (mmHg)
is y=96.36x-271.57 such that x=Vair and y = Pair (mmHg) with a y-intercept of -271.57 and a slope of
96.36.

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 ‘ Now, plotting Vair vs Pair (mmHg)

At zero volume, The temperature in ◦ C, which is the y-intercept of the linear regression shown above,
corresponds to the absolute zero in celsius scale.

IV Discussion of Results/Answers to Questions

Calibration of the Thermometer: When using measured temperatures for boiling water and for a mixture
of water and melting ice, the boiling point of water goes down as atmospheric pressure decreases. Thus,
boiling water on a mountaintop has a lower temperature than boiling water at sea level. There is an
experimental number factor determined for the change in the boiling point of water per difference in
pressure between observed pressure and the Standard Pressure. Thus, it is reasonable to assume a linear
correction that gives the correct values at both calibration points.
Volume Measurement: Trapped air is not completely heated when heating water around the bulb. The
air in the tubes connecting the bulb to the manometer is approximately at room temperature. Suppose
there are n moles of trapped air, n1 for heated region and n2 for connecting tube, approximately at room
temperature. As the air is heated, it becomes less dense in the bulb relative to the tube, and therefore
n1 decrease and n2 increases, but n remains constant.
As the air is heated, it becomes less dense in the bulb relative to the tube. Analysis of the data
will involve fitting the temperature versus pressure data to a straight line. The intercept of the fit is
your experimental value of Absolute Zero. As a first term Core experiment you should also calibrate the
thermometer.
From the y-intercept of the linear regression, the absolute zero temperature is -271.57 ◦ C. The
theoretical value is -273.15 ◦ C. Comparing them,

|273.15−271.57|
% error= 273.15 x 100
= 0.578 %

This implies that the experimental value varies significantly with the theoretical value.

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V Conclusion
Based on the data gathered, it is concluded that the theoretical is significantly exact since it does not
vary much with the experimental value. The variation between values are due to instrumental, human,
and methodical error.

VI References
1. IEEE (2017) http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7306717/?reload=true
2. Myung-Hoon Kim (2001) A Simple Laboratory Experiment for the Determination of Absolute Zero.
Journal of chemical education 78(2), p238
3. Ivanov D.T., (2003). Experimental Determination of Absolute Zero Temperature. The Physics
Teacher 41, 172 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.1557508
4. Miur H.,(2010) What happens at absolute zero. New scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18541-
what-happens-at-absolute-zero/
5. Helmenstine A.M. Ph.D. (2017) What Is Absolute Zero?, Absolute Zero and Temperature. https://www.thoughtco.com/
is-absolute-zero-604287