Experiment

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY FOR 1

Physical Properties of Water
Open Inquiry Version

Physical properties of a substance are characteristics that can be observed without altering the
identity of the substance. Color, density, hardness, freezing point, melting point, boiling point,
and electrical conductivity are examples of physical properties.

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In the Preliminary Activity, you will gain experience using a Temperature Probe and data-
collection softwareexperience that will be helpful later as you investigate a physical property
of water. You will measure temperature continuously before, during, and after warming a
Temperature Probe in your hand. You will then gain experience selecting data ranges,
determining statistics, and determining linear fits of selected data using data-collection software.

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After completing the Preliminary Activity, you will first use reference sources to learn more
about physical properties of substances and the physical properties of water in particular before
you choose and investigate a researchable question dealing with a physical property of water.
Some topics to consider in your reference search are:

substances
physical properties
physical change
n chemical properties
chemical change
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PROCEDURE
1. Connect the Temperature Probe to the data-collection interface.
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2. Start data collection.

3. When 20 seconds have passed, pick up the

Temperature Probe and hold its tip in the palm of
your hand as shown in Figure 1. Warm the
al

Temperature Probe for 60 seconds.

4. After the probe has been warmed for 60 seconds (data

have been collected for a total of 80 seconds), place
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the Temperature Probe on the desktop for the

remainder of the data-collection period. Data
collection will stop after another 100 seconds (after
data have been collected for a total of 180 seconds).
Figure 1

Investigating Chemistry through Inquiry 11S

Experiment 1

QUESTIONS
1. Use the Statistics function to determine the minimum and maximum temperatures measured
during the 180-minute data-collection period. What was the minimum temperature? What
was the maximum temperature?

2. Select the portion of the graph corresponding to the first 20 seconds of data collection, and
then use the Statistics function to determine the mean temperature during this period. What
was the mean temperature during the first 20 seconds of data collection?

3. You can see at a glance that the cooling portion of the curve is not linear. To gain some
helpful experience, however, let us assume that the curve for the last 30 seconds is linear and
determine its slope. Select the last 30 seconds of the graph, and then use the Linear Fit
function to determine its slope. This slope corresponds to the cooling rate of the Temperature
Probe during this period. What was the cooling rate for your Temperature Probe?

4. List at least one researchable question concerning the physical properties of water.

Note: The plan that you submit for instructor approval should list laboratory safety concerns,
including chemical safety concerns, and specify how you will address these safety concerns
during your investigation.

1-2S Investigating Chemistry through Inquiry

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The complete Investigating Chemistry though Inquiry lab manual includes 25 inquiry-based
labs and essential teacher information. The full lab book is available for purchase at:
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