Determining

Absolute Zero
Using Charles'
Law
by: Thomas Edwards and
Grayson Jones
B Block
 2 December 2010

Introduction
Charles’ law was published by Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, but most of the discovery was

credited to Jacques Charles. The law shows that as temperature of a gas increases, the volume of the

gas also increases proportionally. With this relationship between volume and temperature, many

calculations and estimates can be developed. Absolute zero is known as the point of temperature

where all motion of atoms reaches its minimum value. It is also known as the coldest possible

temperature. Unlike popular opinion, all motion does not stop at absolute zero.

The purpose of this lab is to collect data and relate that data to Charles’ law in order to find a

value for absolute zero. To do this, the temperature of heated air will be taken. Then the temperature

of cooled air will be taken. With this data, a graph will be composed. A line of best fit will be drawn

showing the theoretical value of absolute zero according to the collected data.

The kinetic theory relates to this lab because it describes the movement of particles at a

molecular level. The theory says that the pressure of gas comes from the small collisions of

particles. Also, it shows that temperature will decrease after pressure drops to a certain point. This

relates to the lab as the purpose is to make sure a value of this cease in pressure and temperature.

Cryogenics also has a relation to this experiment. If one could cool an organic material to absolute

zero, it would be perfectly preserved for future use. Previous attempts at this have not fared well,

and only around two hundred people have undergone the procedure. This procedure is not expected

do occur in modern day science.

Procedure

1. Draw water into a trough to create a hot water bath

2. Fill a 600 ml beaker with about 400 ml of water and bring it to a boil.

3. Find the volume of an Erlenmeyer flask by filling it up with water and then measuring the

amount of water that it can hold. Then dry the flask and hold it with a utility clamp so it can be

placed on the ring stand.

4. Once the water is boiling, place the utility clamp holding the flask on the ring stand so that the

flask is submereged around one third of the way in the water. Then place the rubber stopper on

top of the flask.

5. After about 3 minutes, the flask should be heated enough to assume that the temperature of the

air inside the flask is the same as the temperature of the boiling water. Record the boiling

temperature of the water.

6. At this point, hold the stopper down to create an air tight seal, and take the flask out of the

boiling water and place it upside down into a trough of cool water. Then remove the stopper and

allow water the flow into the flask, not letting any air get in the flask.

7. After about another 3 minutes, when the flask is cooled to the temperature of the water, adjust

the flask so that the water inside the flask is level with the water outside the flask. While

holding it in the position, place the rubber stopper back on the flask. Then remove the flask

from the water in an upright position, without losing any water.

8. Record the temperature of the water in the flask, and assume it was the temperature of the gas

left in the flask at the end.

9. Using a 100 ml graduated cylinder, measure the volume of water that was in the flask.

10. Determine the atmospheric pressure at the time the experiment was performed.
Data

Measurements Values
Volume of Hot Gas (V1) 155 mL
Temperature of Hot Air (T1) 100.0 ºC
Temperature of Cool Air (T2) 24 ºC
Volume of Water Forced into Flask 30.0 mL
Calculated Volume of Cooled Air 125 mL
Atmospheric Pressure of the Lab 734 mmHg
Vapor Pressure of Water at the Temperature of 22.4 mmHg
Cooled Air
Pressure of Dry Gas 711.6 mmHg
Corrected Volume (V2) 121 mL

Graph
 Volume vs. Temperature
Lab Data
180

160

140

120
Volume, mL

100

80

60

40

20

0
-400 -300 -200 -100 0 100 200
Temperature, C

y=.447368x+110.26315; -110.26315=.447368x; x=(around) -246

Calculations

Volume of Cooled Air= Volume of Hot Gas-Volume of Water Forced into Flask

Volume of Cooled Air= 155 mL- 30mL= 125mL

Pressure of Dry Gas=Atmospheric Pressure of Lab-Vapor Pressure of Water at 24ºC

Pressure of Dry Gas=734 mmHg-22.4 mmHg= 712 mmHg

Corrected Volume=(V2)=(Volume of Cooled Air)*(Pressure of Dry Gas)/(Atmospheric Pressure)

Corrected Volume=(V2)=(125mL)(712mm Hg)/(734mm Hg)=121 mL

Linear Equation for Volume vs. Temperature Relationship (y=mx+b)

slope (m)=(V2-V1)/(T2-T1)=(121-155)/(24-100)=.447368

y-intercept(b); y-y1=m(x-x1) =y-155=.447368(0-100) =110.2632

y=.447368x+110.26315

Absolute Zero Estimation

x-intercept;0=mx+b; 0=.447368x+110.26315

Absolute Zero Temperature(x)= -246

Conclusion

In this lab we found the value of absolute zero using Charles’ Law. Based on my results, I

found that absolute zero is at about -246˚C. The actual absolute zero temperature is

-273.15˚C.Therefore my results show that my percent error was 9.9 %. I also found that as

temperature increases, volume increases and that is a linear relationship. This lab was successful

because I found absolute zero by using Charles’ Law. I learned that in big cities, cryogenics are used

to keep the city from wasting electricity.

References:
http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/1515sp01/database/vpwater.html
http://www.metalscience.com/techinfo_ASM.php
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/kinth.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles's_law