Temperature Changes: AQA Practical

AQA-style Exam Question

A student investigates how the mass of solid anhydrous copper sulfate affects its temperature change when it is dissolved in water.

Plan a valid method.

[6 marks]

• How do we prepare the water?

  Measure 25 cm³ of water using a measuring cylinder and pour it into an insulated cup.

  Record the initial temperature of the water using a thermometer.

  CONTROL VARIABLE

  Keep the volume of water the same every time.

• How do we prepare and add the solid?

  Measure 2g of anhydrous copper sulfate using a balance.

  Add it to the water in the insulated cup and stir thoroughly until it has dissolved.

• How do we measure and calculate our DEPENDENT variable?

  Record the maximum temperature reached by the solution using a thermometer.

  Then calculate the temperature change using:

  • temperature increase = maximum temperature − initial temperature

• How do we change our INDEPENDENT variable to investigate how mass affects temperature change?

  The mass of anhydrous copper sulfate is the independent variable (what we change).

  So repeat the experiment for different masses, for example 1 g, 2 g, 3 g, 4 g and 5 g.

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