Thermodynamics Lab

Thermometer

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CONTENT
1. Objective
2. Introduction
3. Equipment
4. Procedure
5. Reading
6. Calculation
7. Discussion
8. Conclusion
9. Error rate
10. Reference

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OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to learn how to
measure the error rate of a thermometer.

INTRODUCTION
In many chemistry experiments it is required that we
measure the actual temperature of a liquid. On some
occasions it is the temperature change which
accompanies a reaction, that is required. The accuracy
and precision of the thermometer are probably the main
factors which affect such measurement, but good
technique is also important to ensure that the true
temperature is measured.
Most thermometers are calibrated so that they read
correctly when the entire column of mercury is immersed
in the solution whose temperature is being measured. It is
not practical to do this every time a measurement is made,
but we should at least have all the bulb covered, whenever
measurements are made. The liquid should be well mixed
to ensure a uniform temperature throughout its volume,
and the thermometer should remain long enough in the
liquid to ensure that it comes to thermal equilibrium at the
temperature which is being measured. When temperature
changes are being measured, one can reduce the error by
taking both temperatures with the same thermometer. In
this experiment the accuracy of two thermometers is
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investigated by observing their readings at the ice point
and at the boiling point of water.

EQUIPMENT
1. Temperature measurement unit
2. Thermometer
3. Beaker
4. Heater

PROCEDURE
Set up the experiment and follow the directions given
below:
A- Calibration at the Melting Point of Ice
1. Fill the beaker with approximately 75% ice and 25%
distilled water.
2. Allow 3-5 minutes for the system to equilibrate.
3. Place the thermometer in the ice water solution and
allow another 3-5 minutes for the system to equilibrate.
4. Record the temperature on the results page.
B- Calibration at the Boiling Point of Water
1. Fill the beaker about half full with distilled Water.
2. Turn on the heater and allow the Water to come to its
Boiling Point.
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3. Allow the temperature shown by the thermometer to
stabilize, after that record the temperature to the correct
precision.

READING
First Thermometer Second
Thermometer
101.5 °C 102 °C

CALCULATION
Water boiling point Temperature measured by the first
thermometer was 101.5°C .
Water boiling point Temperature measured by the second
thermometer was 102°C .

DISCUSSION
Q1/ The Tap Water used in preparing the Ice used in our
Ice Point Calibration will contain dissolved salts. What
does adding salt to Ice typically do to the Freezing Point?

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Answer: the salt will lower the freezing temperature of the
water means the ice on the ground can't freeze that layer
of water at 0°C anymore.

Q2/ The Tap Water used in preparing the Water used in

our Boiling Point Calibration will contain dissolved salts.
What does adding salt to Water typically do to the Boiling
Point?
Answer: Adding salt to water will increase the boiling point.
The reason why salt is able to raise the boiling point is due
to the salt raising the vapour pressure of the water. For a
liquid to change phase into a gas its vapour pressure must
exceed the atmospheric pressure. Therefore by adding
salt or any other impurity to the water will require more
heat to overcome the atmospheric pressure.

Q3/ What is happening to Boiling point, if we do this

experiment at a highest point in Korek Mountain? Is the
Freezing point will have changed?
Answer: The boiling point would be lower. The boiling
point of water varies with atmospheric pressure. At lower
pressure or higher altitudes, the boiling point is lower. The
freezing point would be slightly higher. The freezing point
increases very slightly at higher altitudes, due to the air
pressure. Because ice takes up more space than water, a
lower air pressure will cause water to freeze at a slightly
higher temperature.

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CONCLUSION
The main purpose of this experiment was to find the error
rate of different thermometers by using them to measure
the boiling point of the water. When measuring the
temperature for a laboratory experiment results need to be
very accurate because 1 degree difference in temperature
can make a big difference on the result of the experiment.
Boiling point of water at sea level is (100 °C). This
experiment was done on two different thermometers.
When measuring the boiling point of the water, the reading
on the first thermometer was (101.5 °C). The reading of
this thermometer is (1.5 °C) over the accurate
temperature. This means whenever this thermometer is
used in an experiment, (1.5 °C) should be taken off the
measured temperature for the accurate result to be found.
As for the second thermometer, the recorded temperature
for the boiling point of the water was (102 °C). This shows
that the reading of the second thermometer is (2 °C) over
the accurate temperature and (2 °C) should be taken off
the measured temperature for the accurate result to be
found.

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ERROR RATE
1. Error rate for the first thermometer:

Error rate = ×100

Error rate = ×100 = 1.5%

2. Error rate for the second thermometer:

Error rate = ×100

Error rate = ×100 = 2%

REFERENCE
1. Helmenstine, A. M. (2019) ‘How Salt Melts Ice and
Prevents Freezing’. Thought Co.
2. Bean, H. S.(2020) ‘Thermometer’. Access science.
3. Hayward, W. (2020) ‘Classification of Temperature
Measurement Devices’. Process cooling.

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