Gases Lab 2

Objective: to observe the effects of temperature on the volume of gas

Background: Discuss the known effects of temperature on molecule arrangement and energy and how that information could
effect the volume of a gas.

Equipment:

Very large bowl freezer meter stick

large pot refrigerator Sharpie Markers
thermometer stove heavy gloves for dry ice
ring stand 10 balloons (there are extra)
clamp string

Pre-Lab Procedure

1) Blow up each balloon to approximately 20cm diameter and tie off.

2) Cut 10 pieces of string 1 meter in length.
3) Tie each piece of string to the knot on the balloon. The balloon should be tied in the center of the length of string.
4) Lay one side of the string on the balloon from the knot to the top and draw on the balloon along the string. Do the same
on the opposite side of the string. This is your guide line so you can measure repeatedly along the same line. Do this for
each balloon.
5) Label each balloon with one of the eight labels listed on the data sheet.
6) For each balloon, lay the strings back over the guidelines and use the Sharpie to mark the strings where they meet at the
top of the balloon. Then using a measuring stick, measure the distance between the two points on the string for the
initial circumference. Record this information on the data sheet.
7) Hypothesize how temperature will effect the circumference (increase or decrease) and record your hypotheses for each
balloon on the data sheet.

General Procedures: These procedures are those which will be done for each balloon. Any additional specifics are listed in the
next set of procedures.

1) Set-up a thermometer to take the temperature of the work area and record the adjusted temperature on the data sheet.
2) Put the balloon in the work area for approximately three minutes (more for colder areas).
3) Cross the measuring strings while the balloon is still in the work area and mark the new circumference.
4) Measure the new circumference and record the final circumference on the data sheet.
5) Repeat the procedure with the second balloon for that area.

Specific Procedures:

Boiling Water

1) Put water into a large pot to approximately 10cm in depth and put it onto a stove. Bring to a boil.
2) Tie a weight onto the balloon such that it will stay firmly in the surface of the water with the knot down. Four metal
table spoons tied together is sufficient weight. Do NOT use the guide strings but use additional string.

Refrigerator and Freezer

1) Place the thermometer on a ring stand so that the thermometer itself does not touch the refrigerator or freezer.
2) Open the refrigerator and freezer as little as possible to keep the temperature as constant as possible.

Dry Ice/Isopropyl Alcohol

1) Tie a weight onto the balloon such that it will stay firmly in the surface of the water with the knot down. Four metal
table spoons tied together is sufficient weight. Do NOT use the guide strings but use additional string.
2) Using a hammer, break the block of dry ice into smaller chunks.
3) In a very large bowl, pour approximately 1L Isopropyl alcohol.
4) Put the balloon into the bowl, keeping the guide strings out of the alcohol as much as possible so you will be able to
measure with them.
5) Add the dry ice.
Data

1) Calculate the Δ circumference for each balloon.

2) Given the circumference of a sphere you can calculate the radius (r) using C=2πr. Calculate the radius for the balloon at
each of the temperature intervals. Do this for the initial volume and the actual final volume.
3) The formula for volume of a sphere is 4/3 πr3. Calculate the volume of the balloon at each of the temperature intervals.
4) Convert your temperature to Kelvin. Graph* the Kelvin temperature to volume for each interval.
5) ANSWER: Does the graph show a direct proportional change between temperature and volume?
6) Given your initial volume and temperature, calculate what the volume should have been at each temperature interval. Using
a different color, graph this predicted information on the same graph as your actual results.
7) ANSWER: Are the graph lines identical? Do you have a small margin of error (±5%) or a large one? What factors could
account for the differences?

Conclusion

Summarize the results and your observations about the effects of temperature on the volume of a gas, based on this experiment

*A note on graphing for this lab: because there will be many different points graphed, graph each point with a number and
provide a key on the side (e.g. 1 boiling water A, 2 boiling water B etc.)
 Balloon Labels Hypothesis on the Δ Final Initial Original Volume
Increase/Decrease Circumference Circumference Δ Circumference (before altering the temperature)
Boiling Water A
Boiling Water B

Room A
Room B

Refrigerator A
Refrigerator B

Freezer A
Freezer B

Dry Ice & A

Isopropyl Alcohol C3H8O
Dry Ice & B
Isopropyl Alcohol C3H8O

Celsius Temperature Kelvin Temperature Δ Circumference Radius Actual Final Volume Calculated Final Volume
Boiling Water A
Boiling Water B

Room A
Room B

Refrigerator A
Refrigerator B

Freezer A
Freezer B

Dry Ice & A ~ -73oC

Isopropyl Alcohol C3H8O
Dry Ice & B ~ -73oC
Isopropyl Alcohol C3H8O

Gases Lab 2 Data