I just completed a lab where we measured the specific heat of a metal. During the lab, we had to measure the temperature of boiling water. Why did we have to do this? Shouldn't boiling water be at exactly 100'C?
2007-09-26 14:22:40 · 3 answers · asked by cmh0114 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
i guess to see how precise and accurate ur answer is to the actual temp
2007-09-26 14:26:31 · answer #1 · answered by NfBBY♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 100°C mark is for absolutely pure water when the pressure is exactly 1 atmostphere (760 torr). This is almost never the case. Water dissolves things too readily to be 100% pure and the pressure of a lab may vary based upon the weather of the day, the lab's elevation, etc.
Therefore, it is very important to measure the actual temperature of the boiling water.
2007-09-26 21:30:42 · answer #2 · answered by lhvinny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why you had to do this but water only boils at 100ºC if its pure and the atmos. press is standard 760 mm Hg. If you are at altitudes higher than sea level atm. press is less & so is B.Pt
2007-09-26 21:29:04 · answer #3 · answered by Aurium 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋