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Analyzing the Cooling Ability of Water, Isopropyl Alcohol and Acetone through
Evaporation
Alex Caplin, Vivi Heinrich*
*Animas High School, Durango Co
ABSTRACT
In this experiment the evaluation of various substances coolant ability through evaporation was
used to determine which substance is most effective for evaporative cooling The objective was to
find the substance that most decreased thermal energy through evaporation similar to a swamp
cooler. Different thermometers were submerged into three substances being water, isopropyl
alcohol, and acetone. The initial thermometer temperature was recorded before submerging them
into the substances. From there the temperature on each thermometer was recording every 2-5
minutes over a 15-minute period. This was conducted throughout two trials. It was determined
that the substance most effective for evaporative cooling was acetone followed by isopropyl
alcohol and water. In both trials acetone had an average temperature drop of 19 C. On average
Isopropyl alcohol dropped 13.5 C while water only dropped 12.5 C. This experiment proved to
be effective in determining the substance most effective for evaporative cooling. Although acetone
is not a practical substance for objects such as a swamp cooler, acetones significant cooling
ability can possibly be used for industrial use. Possible errors that have occurred include not
taking the infrequent air conditioning and room temperature into account. Also the humidity within
the room was not considered during the experiment.

INTRODUCTION

pressure to low pressure.

This movement is similar
Evaporation is when a substance experiences a to the passive movement
phase change from liquid to gas. Evaporation
of molecules known as
causes cooling because heat energy is
diffusion. During diffusion
absorbed by molecules. The total energy of a
molecules move to even
system is calculated by summing up the energy out concentration.
of individual particles. The energy of a molecule Molecules move from
in a liquid state is lower than energy of a
high pressure to low
molecule in a gaseous state. This additional
pressure in order to reach
energy is coming from the absorption of heat
a balanced pressure. In a
energy. This concept is used in swamp coolers, liquid molecules bounce
which rely on the evaporation of water to cool
about and bump into each
the air in a room. Evaporation can happen when other. When they collide, energy is transferred
a liquid is cooled, but happens more often when and one molecule ends up with more energy
it is heated. When molecules are heated, the
than the other. The increase in energy caused
energy increases. In order for evaporation to
by these collisions allows that molecule to
happen the energy of individual molecules must escape liquid form and turn into a gas.
increase. The energy of the entire system does
not need to increase. For example some
Evaporative cooling is present in nature.
molecules from a glass of water left at room
Humans use evaporative cooling to reduce
temperature will evaporate, but not all the water body temperature when sweat evaporates from
molecules will reach a high enough energy to
the skin surface. Dogs use evaporative cooling
evaporate. All of the molecules have varying
to lower their body temperature when they pant.
levels of energy. Factors that can alter a
The most common industrial use of evaporative
molecules level of energy are external
cooling is the swamp cooler which works by
temperature, pressure and molecular collisions. taking in hot, dry air and releasing cool air
The higher temperature will increase the energy (Figure 1) Although it would not be appropriate
of molecules and cause evaporation to speed
to use isopropyl alcohol or acetone in a swamp
up. Molecules will move from an area of high
cooler to cool a room, because it would release
Figure 1: Evaporative Cooling Diagram

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fumes, there may be other uses for these
chemicals in evaporative cooling. We would
The student safety contract applies. To avoid
assume that there would be industrial uses for incidents while conducting this experiment the
evaporative cooling using chemicals other than following is required. The student must wear
water to speed up the process, however we did tightly fitting goggles at all times during the lab.
not find current applications in our research
All flammable materials and substances being
beyond swamp coolers and refrigerator systems. used such as isopropyl alcohol and acetone
must be kept away from any flames. The student
must also be aware to not substitute glass
beakers for plastic containers as the acetone
MATERIALS AND METHODS
may dissolve it. Finally the proper disposal of
acetone and isopropyl alcohol must be
To start this lab collect the following:
executed. The student is not to dispose of either
4 thermometers (Celsius)
in the sink due to possible damage to the pipes
4 Beakers
and sink itself.
Paper towels
4 rubber bands or tape
Water
RESULTS
Isopropyl Alcohol
Acetone
Through analysis of the cooling properties of
water, acetone and isopropyl alcohol, we
Timer or stopwatch
concluded that acetone was most effective for
To analyze the cooling ability of various liquids evaporative cooling followed by isopropyl
we first set up four large beakers in a row. We alcohol, and water. We completed this lab twice
then filled three of the beakers individually with to ensure that our results were consistent and
acetone, water, and isopropyl alcohol. The fourth accurate, the figures for both trials are included
below and express correlating results. During
beaker had nothing in it for the controlled
variable. We then prepared four thermometers our lab we created a control experiment to
by taping paper towels tightly to the end of the compare our fluctuation in Data to. On figures 2
thermometers. Then, with our stopwatch ready, and 3 below, this control is shown as the dark
green variable, and expresses very little
we fully emerged each thermometer in the
assigned liquid and then removed it and put it on temperature change throughout either trial. The
other materials provided varying cooling abilities,
top of the beaker to observe change in
temperature over time. The fourth beaker had a which contrast well on the figures below showing
clear change in temperature. Both trials revealed
dry control thermometer resting on it. We
recorded the temperature each thermometer to that acetone has the greatest evaporative
cooling ability with an average temperature drop
start with every 2-5 minutes over a 15-minute
period. This allowed us to determine the change of 19 degrees. The substance with the second
greatest evaporative cooling ability is isopropyl
in temperature and compare efficiency in
cooling. For our second trial the same process alcohol with an average temperature drop of
13.5 degrees, followed by water with an average
and procedures were followed.
temperature drop of 12.5 degrees. Overall, the
lab performed provided us with data that reveals
the comparative, evaporative cooling abilities of
HAZARDS
acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and water.
Figure 2: Trial 1 Results

Figure 3: Trial 2 Results

Table 1: Change in temperature trial 1 and trial 2

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Trials

Acetone

Isopropyl Alcohol

Water

Control

Trial 1

20 Celsius

14 Celsius

11 Celsius

6 Celsius

Trial 2

18 Celsius

13 Celsius

14 Celsius

1 Celsius

CONCLUSION

some sort industrial use. For example when a

material needs to cool slowly via evaporative
The goal of this experiment was to evaluate the cooling before the next step in processing. In
cooling properties of evaporation of different
doing research we found little application for
liquids, to determine which provided the best
evaporative cooling beyond cooling a room.
cooling results; we concluded that in the
circumstances of our lab, acetone had the most
Possible errors that may have occurred
cooling ability. This is reflected in the data seen and affected the accuracy and precision of the
in Table 1, which shows the change in
results are fluctuating room temperature and
temperature for each chemical used. Acetone
humidity. While conducting both trials the air
had the highest change in temperature in both conditioning was active and inactive multiple
trial one and trial two. This means that acetone times. This could impact the rate of evaporation
has the greatest change in energy per particle and the initial starting and ending temperate. A
when it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state lower temperature slows evaporation and a
during evaporation. This also means more heat higher temperature would speed the process up.
energy is absorbed during evaporation.
Although, the air conditioning may have helped
Isopropyl alcohol was the second most effective keep the room at a more stable temperature.
at cooling. The average change in temperature The air blowing from the vents could also affect
was 13.5 degrees Celsius. Water was the least airflow moving air will speed up evaporation. The
effective at cooling through evaporation. The
humidity in the room was an unknown variable.
average change in temperature for water was
The higher the humidity the slower the
12.5. The only one of these materials actually
evaporation would occur. If the experiment was
used for evaporative cooling is water. Though
repeated the humidity in the room should be
water is not the most functional, it is safe and
taken into account. If there was more time our
abundant; acetone and isopropyl alcohol are not results would have been accurate if we could
used for evaporative cooling due to their toxicity conduct more trials.
and associated danger. Even though it is not
practical to use acetone to cool a room via a
swamp cooler I would think that there would be