Measuring specific latent heat of vaporization of water

Measuring Specific Latent Heat of Vaporization of Water 



Introduction:



The aim of this experiment was to determine the specific latent heat of vaporization of a liquid using basic equipment and calculations. The accepted value of the latent vaporization heat is 2.3x 104 Jkg-1. Hopefully the results obtained will be similar to the accepted value.



	Apparatus:

	

	Kettle

	3 beam Scales

	Stop watch

	

	Variables:

	

	Method:

	Take the kettle and fill it up half way with water

	Put it on the scales and measure the mass

	Record the mass in the data table

	Turn on the kettle

	When the water starts to boil start timing 

	Stop timing when 50 grams of water have been lost

	Record in the data table

	Repeat steps 1-7 five times



Data Collection and Analysis




Time of the trials

Trials

Mass/kg  0.005

Time/s  5s

1

0.050

187

2

0.050

180.0

3

0.050

180.0

4

0.050

192

5

0.050

145

Average

0.050

186



Uncertainties



The scientist determined the uncertainties by measuring them. The scientist wasn’t sure when to start timing the boiling water, and as there was no set time time written in the procedure , so the uncertainty was determined to be 5s. As the scales used to measure the mass of the water were not electronic, but three beam, the minimum uncertainty was determined to be 5 grams . The uncertainty for the specific latent heat of vaporization was based on the uncertainties of mass and time.



Pt=mLv 

Trial 1 m=0.05 t=187s 

 



Trial 2 m=0.05 t=180s 


 



Trial 3 m=0.05g t=180s

 



Trial4 m=0.05kg t=192s

 





Trial 5 m=0.05kg t=189s


 





Average



Trials

1

2

3

4

5

Lv /Jkg-1

2.7 x 106

349110

2.6 x 106

338688

2.8 x 106 

355622

2.6 x 106 

338688

2.1 x 106

237300







Conclusions and evaluations



The calculated value of the specific latent heat of vaporization was supposed to be 2.3 x 106 J/Kg. Unfortunately the results achieved by the calculations were not perfect and did not reach the accepted values. All the Lv calculated were in one range, but did not come close to 2.3 x 106. 







The median value of the calculated Latent heat of vaporization was modelled by the equation 



y= 25520x+2657760



and showed that the values were still inflated, but regarding the uncertainty, some values reached the accepted value. 

The reasons of such weak results were the uncertainties of the procedure, and old equipment. The scientist didn’t have a set time to start timing the boiling water, therefore the time could be the reason of the misleading calculations. The scales that the scientist was usingwere three-beam, and not electronic. This could as well be a reason of the uncertain mass. It was difficult for the scientst to measure the exact moment,when the water had evaporated 50 grams of water. 

Reasonable improvements for this experiment would be, setting a time for the scientist to start measuring