DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE ZERO I.

Introduction

Gas laws describe the relationship between the pressure, temperature and volume of a gas. In this experiment we will study the relationship between the certain temperature of a gas sample, its volume noting the barometric pressure, and we will use this data to determine the value of absolute zero. Absolute zero is defined as 0 Kelvin or -273.15 c, and is the lowest possible temperature where nothing could be colder and no heat energy remains in the substance. This involves several gas laws including Charles law which states that volume varies directly with temperature at constant pressure written in the formula; V=kT (1)
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This experiment makes use of a simple method for the volume determination. Vapor pressure determination is accounted by the Daltons Law of partial pressure; Pt=Pair+PH2O (2)

Where Pt is the barometric pressure, Pair is the partial pressure of air and pH2O is the vapor pressure value which must be noted because this is highly dependent on temperature. Provide with this equation; Vair =Vt(Pair/Pt) A volume pressure ratio is needed to determine the partial volume or the volume of the air. Using graphical presentation of Temperature vs the Volume of the trapped air a linear equation is obtain with slope equal to (P/nR). Letting the value of the gas equal to zero in the equation obtained, the absolute zero temperature is now gained represented by the y- intercept of the linear equation.

II.

Experimental

A sample of air is trapped in an inverted 10-ml graduated cylinder which is immersed in a tall beaker of o water. As the water in the beaker is heated to about 84 C, the air in the graduated cylinder expands and becomes saturated with water vapor. The temperature and volume are recorded. The total air and water vapor pressure inside the cylinder is equal to the barometric pressure .The water in the beaker is allowed to cool. The volume of air contracts and less water vapor is present at the lower temperature. The temperature and volume are recorded o o o every 7 C between 84 C and 0 C, noting the barometric pressure. At this temperature the vapor pressure of water is so low that it can be assumed that all of the gas in the graduated cylinder is air. Gathering all the required data in obtaining the main objective of the experiment (the absolute zero temperature) using some proven Laws and relationship results are now visible.

III.

Data Volume of Air Trapped at Certain Temperature Interval

Trial Temperature oc

T1 Volume(mL)

T2 Volume(mL)

T3 Volume(mL)

84.0 77.0 70.0 63.0 56.0 49.0 42.0 35.0 28.0 21.0 14.0 7.0 0.0

10.00 9.70 8.80 8.50 7.70 7.30 6.80 6.40 6.20 5.90 5.80 5.50 5.45 5.10 5.20 4.90 5.00 4.75 4.80 4.60 4.65 4.30 4.50 4.20 4.40 4.15 Barometric pressure=764.50mmHg

9.60 8.20 7.10 6.20 5.70 5.30 5.05 4.80 4.60 4.45 4.25 4.10 4.05

IV.

Calculations

The volume of readings must be corrected to compensate for the inverted meniscus before any calculation takes place; and is given by the formula; Vcorrected =V-0.20mL ()

For the calculation of vapor pressure of water at a given temperature one might used the Antoines equation given by; PH20 =107.96681-[1668.21/(228+T)] Where T is the temperature in degree Celsius and PH2O is in mmHg. Using Daltons law of partial pressure, the partial pressure of air is obtained using the equation; Pair=PT-PH2O Given the data obtained, substitutes its values to Eq. (1), Eq. (2), Eq. (3) to get the corrected volume, vapor pressure of water and partial pressure of air respectively. Trial 1; At T=84 oc Vcorrected=10.0mL-0.20mL=9.80mL PH2O=107.96681-[1668.21/(228+84)] =416.8531 Pair =764.5mmHg-416.8531mmHg=347.6469 Vair =9.80mL(416.8531mmHg/764.5mmHg)= 4.456428

By means of equations used at trial 1 for the other volume measurements gathered at certain temperature and barometric pressure, the summary of results is achieved and is viewed in the plotted graphs. The graph of temperature versus volume of the trapped air at each trial formulates a linear relationship shown in the following linear equations; y=65.69x-274.3 y=65.38x-254.8 y=70.47x-268.9 Extrapolated graph of Temperature and trapped air Volume

Trial 1
100 50 Temperature(C) 0 -50 -100 -150 -200 -250 -300 Volume(mL) 0 1 2 y = 65.694x - 274.3 R = 0.9998 3 4

Trial 2
100 50 Temperature(C) 0 -50 -100 -150 -200 -250 -300 Volume(mL) 0 1 2 y = 65.387x - 254.8 R = 0.9987 3 4 5 6

Trial 3
100 50 Temperature(C) 0 -50 -100 -150 -200 -250 -300 Volume(mL) 0 1 2 y = 70.472x - 268.9 R = 0.9993 3 4 5 6

by letting x=0, one might get the values of absolute zero temperature which in the linear equation the value of y-intercept. To evaluate statistically following equation is used. =()/n=-798.0/3=-266.0 s=(sq.rot (-)2 )/n-1=sq.root[(-274.3--266.0)2+(-254.8--266.0)2+(-268.9--266.0)2]/(3-1)=6.75056 Cv=(s/ )*100%=(6.75056/266.0)*100%=2.5378% %error={(exp. value-standard value)/standard value}*100% ={-274.3--273.15)/-273.15}=0.42%

With the used of the obtained linear equations and the equations stated previously the following results is achieved; Experimental and Corrected Volumes at certain Temperatures Temperature(oc) Trial 1 Experimental Corrected 10 9.8 8.8 8.6 7.7 7.5 6.8 6.6 6.2 6 5.8 5.6 5.45 5.25 5.2 5 Volumes(mL) Trial 2 Experimental Corrected 9.7 9.5 8.5 8.3 7.3 7.1 6.4 6.2 5.9 5.7 5.5 5.3 5.1 4.9 4.9 4.7

84 77 70 63 56 49 42 35

Trial 3 Experimental Corrected 9.6 9.4 8.2 8 7.1 6.9 6.2 6 5.7 5.5 5.3 5.1 5.05 4.85 4.8 4.6

28 21 14 7 0

5 4.8 4.65 4.5 4.4

4.8 4.75 4.55 4.6 4.6 4.4 4.45 4.3 4.1 4.3 4.2 4 4.2 4.15 3.95 Barometric pressure=764.50mmHg

4.6 4.45 4.25 4.1 4.05

4.4 4.25 4.05 3.9 3.85

Calculated Volume of trapped Air at certain Temperatures Temperature(oc) 84 77 70 63 56 49 42 35 28 21 14 7 0 Trial 1 4.456428 5.064995 5.206633 5.119883 5.028137 4.955531 4.828268 4.724958 4.622896 4.488685 4.381077 4.258492 4.175455 Volume of Trapped Air(mL) Trial 2 4.320007 4.88831 4.928946 4.809587 4.77673 4.690057 4.506384 4.441461 4.38212 4.293525 4.036498 3.961388 3.926916

Trial 3 4.274533 4.711624 4.790102 4.654439 4.609126 4.513073 4.4604 4.346962 4.237655 4.147155 3.987273 3.862353 3.8275

Absolute Zero Temperature and Statistical Results Absolute zero -274.3 -254.8 -268.9 R2 0.999 0.998 0.999 -266.0 6.75056 2.5378% 2.62% %Error 0.42% 6.72% 1.56%

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Mean Standard deviation Coefficient of variation %error of the mean

V.

Discussion of Results( treatment of Errors)

A percent error calculation can be performed on the absolute zero obtained experimentally and manually. Experimenter therefore must be cautious on the things that ones doing. In this experiment the presence of mind and patience are necessary. A fair percent error considering the wide range of sources of error might be faced in this experiment. The procedure calls for the gas measuring tube to be moved in order to line up with the meniscus in the tube. However, during the reported trial of this experiment, the tube was not raised or

lowered to coincide with the leveling. This led to incorrect readings of the meniscus, which in turn led to incorrect measurements of the amount of gas in the tube. Furthermore, the mercury thermometer used during the experiment was slightly distorted. Water at a certain degrees Celsius in thermometer used has a bit difference in other mercury thermometer that was used for the reported trial. However, the discrepancy was not discovered until after the trial had taken place. The possibility for further, more errors, coupled with the unavailability of a calibrated mercury thermometer, made another trial impractical. Another source of error was that the test tube might be not exactly measured with accordance with its label. Since the actual volume of the tube was not measured or recorded at any point during the procedure. There are many consequences to this experiment. Most involve laboratory experience. New apparatuses were used in the laboratory during this experiment. New procedures were learned and practiced. This experiment served as troubleshooting practice, as many things went wrong due to the many sources of error. In terms of practical applications, the knowledge of the workings of gases could be applied to produce desired results in any industrial field. Temperature can be adjusted under the assumption that it is directly proportional to volume that affects produce the necessary conditions of a gas. Though most of the time hard works results great discovery hence its not implied that great discoveries requires hard works, it doesnt matter if one made a hard or easy go lucky work, what matters most is this person done individual contributions that changes the entire vastness of the universe.

VI.

References http://www.reference.com/browse/absolute+zero http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Absolute_zero

CHEMISTRY The Central Science 9 Edition; Brown, LeMay, Bursten.
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