Experiment: The heating curve of water

Materials: beaker, crushed ice, thermoter, burner, clock/watch with a stop watch function

Method

1. Half fill a beaker with crushed ice
2. Record the temperature of the ice
3. Place the beaker on a stand and heat very gently with a burner
4. Stir the ice continually with the thermometer
5. Record the temperature every two minutes until the ice has melted and the water begins to boil

Observation and results

The heating curve of water and results. Image credit askmrtan.com

• During a length of time as the ice melts there is no rise in temperature
• Once the ice has melted the temperature of the water rises
• The water boils around 96ºC-100ºC
• There is no further increase in temperature as the water turns into steam (vapour/gas)

Conclusion

• latent heat is required in order for a substance like water to change state from solid to liquid
• and from liquid to solid

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