Hand Warmer

Hand
Warmer
Challenge
Challenge
By: Emmy Nam, Mikayla DeBarros, Archer
Leida,
andDeBarros,
Zach Muzzarelli
By: Emmy Nam,
Mikayla
Archer Leida, and Zach
Muzzarelli

Objective
- Design and create a hand warmer
-

increases effectively in temperature

comfortably fit in hand
costs efficient
uses environmentally and physically safe
chemicals

Asking Qs and Defining Problems

- What salts are the most efficient and cheapest?
- What materials would be comfortable for a person to hold?
- How to keep the solution inside without leaking?
- What is an appropriate salt to water ratio to create the
required heat effects?
- We hope to solve of problem of cold hands at school sporting
events or raining days during the winter.

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Labs:
Calorimetry Practice
-

Measure out 100mL water and pour it into calorimeter

Add a stir bar and turn on the stirrer
Measure 5g. magnesium sulfate anhydrate (s) in a weigh boat
Record temp. of water, quickly add MgO4(s) to calorimeter
Record the highest temperature reached. Multiple trials
- Magnesium Sulfate as baseline control to test other salts

Data and Research

- Test six different salts
- Endothermic results
- Ammonium nitrate, sodium acetate, and
sodium chloride

- Exothermic results
- Magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride, and
lithium chloride

- Lithium Chloride shows greatest

temperature increase
*If you would like to view our specific data, it can be
available after the presentation.

Mathematics and Chemical Equations

2 LiCl(s) + 2 H2O(l) -----> Li+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
- Decomposition Reaction
- It forms aqueous solutions

Q = mcT = (6.0 g.) (4.184 J/g*C) (21.2*)

= 532.20 Joules
-

Value is positive
Spontaneous, exothermic reaction
Heat is released from reaction into surrounding system
Increase of entropy

Data and Research

- Use 6 grams of
lithium chloride
for every 15 mL of
water
- Approx. 40 %
concentration
- Allows deviation
for lower
temperature
changes

Data and Research

- Only 5 *C
temperature decrease
after 10 minutes
- Water has high heat
capacity
*May vary depending
on difference of
temperature reaction is
in contact with
- Tested on
countertops, which are
colder than human
hands

*Prediction of less temperature loss over time

Developing Models
Generations I - V

Efficiency of Production
Our hand warmer (with our basic template) and be efficiently created with a group of
two in about 60 seconds or less.
4 seals, 16 mL of Deionized water and 2 small bags of Lithium Chloride
Didnt use products that take time to:
-Absorb liquids
- Raise or lower temperature to create a solution
-

Water is SIMPLE

Future Design

Looking down the road we plan to make three different sizes of hand warmer
Plan on small, medium and large
2 small = 1 medium
1 medium + 1 small = 1 large
This way no plastic is wasted
A small size is meant to either fit a smaller hand size or fit in the palm of
someone's hand
A medium is for all around general size hands (edge to edge of palms)
Large is for larger hands or to wrap around back of hand when used with gloves

Developing Models
This is a picture of our
original design on paper
compared to our final
design. (note the size
difference)

Various Trials
- Different methods to open inner bags that hold salt
- Pop the air in the bag to release the salt
- *Shake and rub the inner bags

- Different methods of sealing

- Compressing the plastic bag between two metal rulers, and
placing them over a bunsen burner to develop a seal
*Using an actual heat sealer to ensure that all sides are fully closed

Designing Solutions
Function:
- To release the LiCl from the inside the small plastic bags:
- rapidly shake the hand warmer for 10 sec., then rub the
packets for 10 sec., and repeat until the salt is fully out of
the bags and into the water
- This action will open the small packets allowing the salt and
water to come in contact. The benefit of our design is that the
surface area allows for more heat to skin contact.

Constructing Explanations and

Designing Solutions
Function:
- Once the salt reaches the water, the hand warmer will begin
to warm up. To speed up this process, continue shaking to
dissolve the salt

Materials and Cost

Lithium
Chloride

To Make Five Handwarmers:

-

1 Ziploc Bags (gallon)

10 Ziploc Bags (3mL)
30 g. Lithium Chloride
75 mL Water
1 Sharpie
Scissors
1 Heat Sealer

1.75 (amazon.com)
0.42 (amazon.com)
4.68 (us.vwr.com)
0.01
1.30 (amazon.com)
3.34 (Office Depot)
20.00 (amazon)

Total Cost for Five Units: 36.25

Cost per Single Unit: 1.62

Recap
- Effective
- Once the lithium chloride is combined with the water, it heats up to the
required change in temperature of 20C

- Safe
- The materials we use are safe for human use and are sealed safely to prevent
leakage.

- Environmentally Friendly
- The salts and the reaction taking place in our hand warmer have no negative
effect on our environment

- Inexpensive
- All materials used are of reasonable value and can be purchased easily

Thank you for listening!

Any Questions?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Kmi2_97ulaRlkrhDPY_wuGWwJAFDlIIrD57h3aNt5xI/edit?ts=56ddd3ac#gid=0