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This activity is designed to help you identify the phases of matter.
You will experiment with and record measurements to determine the relationship
between the water in all three phases of matter and temperature. If
you do this successfully, you will witness the actual change of matter
from one phase into another phase. Using a thermometer, you can measure
the energy added.
Materials:
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Ice cubes
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Glass beaker
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Thermometer
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Hot plate
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Hot pad
- Watch, clock, or stopwatch with second hand
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Graph paper
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Fill the beaker about 50% full of ice cubes.
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Carefully place the thermometer into the beaker with
ice and take the temperature after one minute.
- Record the measurement
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Plug in the hot plate and turn until it is between
midway and high on the dial.
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Immediately place the beaker with ice cubes onto the
hot plate.
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Observe the temperature as the heat energy melts the
ice cubes.
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Record the measurements every minute.
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When all the ice is melted, read and record the temperature.
Remember to not let the bottom of the thermometer touch the bottom
of the beaker or you will not get a real accurate temperature reading.
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Observe as the water continues to heat and when steam
just begins to appear.
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Continue to observe until you have recorded four minutes
of temperature after the water is boiling.
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Look carefully at your data.
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Record your data on the graph paper as a line graph.
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Safety concerns:

 Be
sure to follow all fire, glassware,
electrical, and chemical
safety rules that are specified by your teacher in all general laboratory
experiences. As with all science lab activities, the most important safety
rule is to follow all teacher directions.
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Data: Record your results in a table similar to the one below.
| Time (minutes) |
Temperature |
Observations (e.g. boiling) |
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Graph:
Use the data from your experiment to create a line graph. Make sure to
record your data accuratly so your graph will reflect the actual phase
change and temperature relationship for water!
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Analysis:
- How quickly did the temperature increase after you placed the beaker
on the hot plate?
- What was the temperature change like after all the ice melted?
- By how many degrees did the temperature increase after the water began
boiling?
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Review science lab safety rules here.
Get the plug-ins:
, and
(The QuickTime plug-in is needed to play sounds and movies correctly.)
Want to share photos of you or your friends doing this activity? Send
it in an e-mail with
the following information: the title of the activity, the URL (Internet
address), and your name. Remember that no pictures can be used which
show any student faces or has a student name on it.
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