2006-09-18 07:44:25 · 9 answers · asked by peggy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
A mixture of ice and water is always 32 degrees. If the water was too warm all the ice would melt and it would be hot. If the ice was so cold-( work with me here) all the water would freeze. 32 degrees is the only temp that both can co-exist.
2006-09-18 07:46:11 · answer #1 · answered by cedykeman1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As many posters have said - a mixture of ice and water is always at 32 degrees F (or 0 degrees C).
Try calibrating a thermocouple where the reference point MUST be an ice bath and watch the voltages jump all over the place due to the ridiculous sensitivity of a device.
Besides, most thermometers do not need calibrating.
2006-09-18 08:07:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are really trying the thermometer in ice cold water for the measurement rather than in just ice (which might be overchilled by being in a freezer to -20). Besides it is much easier to get a uniform temperature if there is water not just air near the thermometer.
2006-09-18 07:46:57 · answer #3 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two reasons.
Ice can be below freezing point and water can be above freezing point. Water and ice mixed like as slush will be at freezing point.
You want good contact with the thermometer. This is difficult to do with just ice because you will only get point contacts. Water, of course, provides a good al round contact.
2006-09-18 07:54:20 · answer #4 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you have water mixed with ice at room temperature, the overall temperature of the ice/water system remains at zero, even though heat is being transferred into it.
So why doesn't the temperature of the system increase?
It's because the energy being transferred into it is being used to increase the systems entropy. Entropy can be thought of as a measure of "disorder". Ice is a highly ordered structure. Pretty much all the energy going into the system is to melt the ice into water which is very disorderly, hence the temperature remains constant (energy is not being used to increase temperature, it's being used to increase entropy or "disorder").
Once all the ice is melted, the system achieves maximum entropy and then any energy being supplied to the water is used to increase its temperature.
2006-09-18 08:29:32 · answer #5 · answered by Epicarus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to maximise the touch with the thermometer. The little factors on the ice chunks do no longer make a sturdy adequate touch to insure that the thermometer displays the actual temperature. additionally, ice on my own would desire to be less warm than 0 C; upload some water, and it can not be.
2016-10-01 02:53:52 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you use ice alone, the temperature can be below freezing. If you use ice water, then the temperature is exactly at the freezing point - until all the ice has melted, that is.
2006-09-18 07:47:54 · answer #7 · answered by Bramblyspam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The water is used to distribute the ambient temperature of the ice, where as ice has a confined surface that is not condusive of having a true temperature reading on a surface such as that of a thermometer.
2006-09-18 07:46:53 · answer #8 · answered by Song Seeker 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
because it keeps it at a constant 0ºC
2006-09-18 08:08:11 · answer #9 · answered by shiara_blade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋