Lesson 8 Activity

In this experiment you will heat pure and salt water in deep and shallow beakers and compare heat absorptions.

Materials/Equipment/Supplies

600 - 750 watts microwave oven

Deep one-liter beakers

Shallow one-liter beakers

Dial thermometer

Water

Salt

Stop watch

Procedures

  1. In a deep glass beaker, place one liter of water.
  2. Place beaker in the middle of the microwave oven.
  3. Set the timer for 5 minutes.
  4. Immediately, open the oven door and place the dial thermometer in the beaker.
  5. Read and record the temperature.
  6. In another deep glass beaker, add 50 grams of sodium chloride (table salt) to one liter of water. Dissolve the salt by agitation.
  7. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  8. In a shallow glass beaker, add 50 grams of sodium chloride (table salt) to one liter of water. Dissolve salt by agitation.
  9. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  10. Compare the final temperature for all three trials.

Record the results of your microwave experiment on the table below.

Trial Number

Temperature After Five Minutes in Microwave

1. Pure Water in Deep Beaker

Degrees

2. Salt Water in Deep Beaker

Degrees

3. Salt Water in Shallow Beaker

Degrees