Melting/Freezing curve for Stearic Acid

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Introduction
When stearic acid melts, it changes state from a solid to a liquid. When
stearic acid cools, it changes state from a liquid to a solid. If we plot a graph
of temperature against time, the melting point is shown as a straight line.

Materials
Test tube of stearic acid Thermometer Hot Plate
Stopwatch 600ml beaker ice water

Method
1. Fill the beaker with 450ml of water. The is a water bath. Place the
water bath on the hot plate.
2. Put a thermometer in the test tube of stearic acid.
3. Turn on the hot plate.
4. Measure the temperature of the stearic acid every 30 seconds and
record the temperature. Record the temperature in degrees Celsius.
5. Heat the water until the stearic acid is completely melted.

6. When the stearic acid has completely melted, turn off the hot plate.

7. Record the temperature of the stearic acid every 30 seconds until it

freezes (solidifies).

Results
1. Record your results in a table.
2. Graph your results – don’t forget title, axis & units
3. Graph the melting data and freezing data in 2 different colors
4. Draw a line (curve!) of best fit.
 Conclusion
1. What is the melting and freezing point of stearic acid? Remember –
it is when the line is straight.

2. Put these labels on your graph – time, temperature, melting point,

freezing point.

Melting Point
Time Temperature
 Freezing Point
Time Temperature

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