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SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN KING GEORGE V, SEREMBAN

CHEMISTRY RESEARCH PROJECT

THERMAL HEAT PAD

TEACHER ADVISOR : MR. KWAN SWEE CHIN MDM. LIM MEE YING MDM. LEE SUI CHIN MEMBERS : KARTINI A/P PARAMESWARAN LEE WEE SIANG SANJEEV DASS A/L KANNUDURAI SIVANESAN A/L RAJUGOPAL THEVENDRAN A/L SANTHARAN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Num. 1. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Contents Acknowledgement Abstract Introduction Problem Statement Objectives Research Question Hypothesis Limitation Methodology Results Conclusion Bibliography Appendix(Application Of Heat Pack)

Page 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 - 13 14 - 20 21 - 22 23 24

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all who helped us to complete this R&D project successfully, especially to our Chemistry teachers Mr. Kwan Swee Ching, Mdm. Lee Sui Chin and Mdm. Lim Mee Ying. They really helped us a lot in this project with constant guidance and suggestions from them; we were able to complete this project on time. We would also like to thank to our school principal, Tuan Haji Mohammad bin Mohammad Isa for allowing us to carry out this research and our school laboratory assistants for their co-operation and willingness in preparing all the necessary apparatus and materials for us to conduct the experiments at any time. They also gave us some useful tips and advice when we were carrying out our experiments. This really saves us a lot of time. Thanks to all the group members for being so co-operative and for contributing invaluable information and ideas. It was very enjoyable to work with such a good team players. Last but not least, we deeply appreciate our classmates ideas, and support in completing this project very successfully!!!

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ABSTRACT

In schools, students are involved in many co-curricular activities both academic and non-academic. Often students pick up minor injuries in such activities. Sometimes after the activities, they suffer body aches and pains. To heal minor injuries and to relieve aches and pains, heat and cold packs are helpful. Schools are equipped with chemical laboratories. This research is targeted at carrying out experimental trials to find a chemical reaction using simple chemicals available in the laboratory to be used to make home made heat and cold packs. Recycled materials were used as bags/packs and different types and sizes were tried out to determine as most suitable. The heat packs were used on fellow students and their comments were noted as regards their effectiveness.

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INTRODUCTION

Have you ever used a hot pack to warm your hands or a cold pack for an injury? How can something produce heat or cold without need to use a microwave heater or refrigerator? The answer is: CHEMISTRY APPLICATIONS. Chemical reactions that produce heat are called exothermic reactions. The burning of gasoline in a car engine is an example of an exothermic reaction. Reactions that are accompanied by the absorption of heat are called endothermic reactions. An example of an exothermic reaction is when solid sodium hydroxide is dissolved in water; the resulting solution is hotter than either of the starting materials. This kind of exothermic reaction can be used in instant heat packs. These heat packs have a strong inner aluminum layer that holds a bag of water and a chemical, or mixture of chemicals, that result in an exothermic reaction when dissolved in water. When the heat pack is squeezed, the inner bag of water breaks and the water mixes with the chemicals. The heat pack starts to heat up as soon as the inner bag is broken, and may stay hot for up to over an hour

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PROBLEM STATEMENT

Are heat packs useful for students in school? When students are carrying out physical activities on the field or on the courts or in the school compound, accidents can happen and students get injured. When this happens, where do they find help? First aid or early treatment on the field is especially important and heat and cold packs are essential first aid items. Commercial heat and cold packs are expensive. The other issue is whether heat and cold packs are effective in treating injuries, aches and pains and this issue will be dealt with through interviews to find out directly from students.

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OBJECTIVES

To determine experimentally the chemical reaction that produces the highest amount of heat per mol of substance used.

To find the best type of recycled packaging material to be used to make the heat pack.

To find different size packaging material to make heat packs for different uses

To develop a heat pack that can be both hot and cold

To test out the heat and cold packs on other students to find out whether the heat packs made could help relieve pains and aches as well as bring healing.

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS

I.

Is there a viable chemical reaction using chemicals available in the chemistry school laboratory that can be used to make heat and cold packs?

II.
III.

Are heat and cold packs effective in treating students injuries, aches and pains? Can the heat and cold packs that is produced by students be as effective as commercial ones and can they replace commercial ones?

IV. V.
VI.

What is the reaction which will liberate heat? Which compound will produce the most heat? What is the suitable material for the heat pack? What is the suitable mol ratio of reactant and solvent which is desirable for the hot pack?

VII.

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HYPOTHESIS

.
A convenient and comfortable heat pack can be made from simple chemicals in

the school library.

Home make hot and cold packs are just as effective as commercial heat packs and very much cheaper.

Heat pack made from recycled packaging material is suitable for treating muscle

aches and pains.

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LIMITATION

Only used recycled products such as ribena packs, sweet packs and dry fruit

packs.

Only chemicals available in a school chemistry laboratory are used

Testing of heat packs only on students in SMK KGV.

Commercial heat packs will not be used for comparison.

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METHODOLOGY

Materials:
1.

Copper (II) Sulphate solution.

CuSO4 crystals dissolved in distilled water - 1.00 mol dm-3 0.100 mol CuSO4 crystals dissolved in 100 cm3 of water.
2. Zinc (powder) 3. Aluminium (powder) 4. Sodium Hydroxide Pellets 5. Sodium Acetate Crystals 6. Distilled Water from the lab. 7. Beakers of size 250 ml 8. Polystyrene cups.

9. Thermometer
10. Recycled RIBENA pack with zip lock. 11. Volumetric flask of size 1000ml.

12. Retort stand 13. Bunsen burner

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PROCEDURE

Experiment 1
The type of reaction in this experiment is called the displacement reaction.
1. 100 cm3 of CuSO4 solution was poured in a polystyrene cup .The initial temperature

was measured and recorded. 0.1 mol of zinc powder is weighed using electronic balance and added into the CuSO4 solution.
2. The solution was stirred constantly and the maximum temperature was measured

with a thermometer. 3. Step 2-4 is repeated using 0.1 mol Aluminium powder instead of Zinc powder.

Experiment 2
This experiment involves heat being produced when a solid is dissolved in water.
1. 0.1 mol of Sodium hydroxide pellets was weighed using an electronic balance

2. 100 cm3 of water was poured into a polystyrene cup. Initial temperature was

measured and recorded.

3. The weighed sodium hydroxide pellets was added into the water in the polystyrene

cup until all is dissolved. The solution was stirred constantly and the final temperature was measured and recorded.

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Experiment 3
1. Sodium acetate trihydrate was heated until it melts completely and a clear liquid is

observed.
2. The molten liquid is supercooled in a refrigerator to a temperature of 100C for 3

hours.
3. The solution is removed from the refrigerator and it is initiated to form a solid by

adding one tiny crystal of the sodium acetate. A lot of heat is released. The solid formed is called HotIice

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RESULTS

Reactants CuSO4 + Zn CuSO4 + Al NaOH + CuSO4 NaOH + H2O

Initial Temperature 28.0 C 28.0 C 28.0 C 29.5 C

Final Temperature 35.0 C 29.0 C 31.0 C 42.5 C

Change In Temperature 7.0 C 1.0 C 3.0 C 13.0 C

Hrxn -2940 J mol-1 -420 J mol-1 -1260 J mol-1 -5460 J mol-1

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Ribena pastilles blackcurrant. -Zip- lock feature. -Smallest and compatible among other heat packs. -Inner side of the pack has aluminium foil to conduct heat better.

Paper sunflower seed pack . - Moderate size among other heat pack. - Its not sealable. - Not water proof.

Pickle pack. - Zip-Lock feature. - Biggest in terms of size and volume compared to others. - Heat conductivity is the lowest as it is fully plastic.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE RESPONDENTS Teachers :

Mr .Kwan Swee Ching Team member : Sir, our research and development is on heat packs, and this is an example of the heat pack. We kindly need your comments on our heat pack as our head of the Chemistry panel. Mr. Kwan : Its a good pack .The heat is sufficient to relieve minor muscle injuries. The pack used is small, so do you think the heat will last long? Team member : Yes sir, the pack is small but it has a unique feature where the inner side of the heat pack is made up from aluminium which conducts heat better and the amount of sodium hydroxide can give long time of heat production which is sufficient enough for the pain relieving process. Mr.Kwan : Ok. I think is ok. Its good enough.

Mdm. Lim Mee Ying Team member : Teacher, our team has done the heat pack , and we want teachers opinion on our product. Mdm. Lim : The heat is quite warm. Is this heat sufficient enough to relieve minor injuries of students? Team member : We have tried the heat pack on the field and some athletes who were suffering sprains was glad to use our heat pack because the heat pack managed to ease them . Mdm. Lim : Then its fine .Good work. One last question, how long the heat will last?

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Team member : Its about 8 to 12 minutes. The period is also depended on the seriousness of the injury. Madame Lim : I hope it can be helpful to the students and not just for a research and development purpose. Team member : Thank you teacher.

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Students :
1st Athlete Muhd Azaifi : My calf muscle crammed , is there any deep heat oil to apply on? Team member : Dont worry, I have got a thermal pad which will give heat and might relieve your muscle pain. Muhd Azaifi : How you did this heat pack? Team member : We made this thermal pad based on exothermic reaction by dissolving sodium hydroxide in water (heat pack prepared and placed on his crammed muscle). After 5 minutes. Team member: How do you feel now? Muhd Azaifi : I feel much relieved and I dont really feel the pain. Thank you.

2nd athlete Muhd Hafizudin : I am having some complications to move my hand! Team member : I know just a thing that can help you. My R&D project, thermal Heat pad can help you! Muhd Hafizudin : I hope it can help me. How long the heat can give out heat. Team member : It gives out heat about 5 to 10 minutes but it still depends on the seriousness of the pain here you go.

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After a couple of minutes....... Muhd Hafizudin : I can move my hand ,its working .Your heat pad quiet efficient. Thank you.

3rd athlete Subenthran : Even a school runner like me gets minor sports injury. Team member : Its common nowadays! No worries my friend , my team and myself has come up with a thermal pad which can ease pains like what you are suffering. It can help our school students when they are involved in such where they injure themselves. After 8 minutes ..using the thermal heat pad Subenthran : Im glad I feel a bit eased. My pulled hamstring pain faded. Good job. This heat pack is comfortable and easy to be made. Thanks. Is this the smallest pack can be made? Team member : No, it can be made into many sizes depending on the solutes mass. Subenthran : Then it should be fine.

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PHOTOS

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CONCLUSION

Experimental results indicate that the highest enthalpy change is obtain by the

reaction between sodium hydroxides and water which is -5460 J mol-1. Thus, this chemical reaction was chosen to prepare our heat pack.
The mass of sodium hydroxide used was 5g and the volume of water used was

100 ml.
When the mass of sodium hydroxide was doubled to 10 g while the volume of

water was maintained at 100 cm3 the temperature was doubled.

The material for the heat pack varies from sizes, heat conductivity and thickness

and the materials for the heat packs are recycled packs. All the three packs were experimented using the chemical reaction we have chosen. Hence, the most suitable pack for the heat pack production is the Ribena pastille.
-

Convenient to bring anywhere. Can be sealed using the zip- lock feature. Inner side of pack is covered with aluminium foil which is excellent in conducting heat.

The heat pack was produced by our team in the lab and was brought to respondents consisting teachers, students, athletes in our school. From the interviews with teachers, students and athletes of SMK KGV we have decided that the reaction of Sodium hydroxide pellets and the water gives the

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most heat which is suitable for a home made heat pack. The material to be used as the heat pack is the Ribena recycled pack because it is more convenient to bring to anywhere. Other than that, to go green we have to use recycled products to save energy.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.google.com/patents?id=unU7AAAAEBAJ http://www.wikipedia.com/heat_?id64t4fghi4ghryu http://www.cnet.sports.com/medicalissue?id12-hdecsecure-conten-otr45 http://w3.menshealth.com/id5egdryucifrv http://www.chemiapedia.com/thermalpack/forms/193-2010;local_id?tr546hd

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APPENDIX
HOW HEAT PACKS RELIEVES ACHES AND PAINS? Many episodes of pain come from muscle exertion or strain, which creates tension in the muscles and soft tissues. This tension can constrict circulation, sending pain signals to the brain. Heat application eases pain by: Dilating the blood vessels surrounding the painful area. Increased blood flow provides additional oxygen and nutrients to help heal the damaged muscle tissue. Stimulating sensation in the skin and therefore decreasing the pain signals being transmitted to the brain increasing the flexibility (and decreasing painful stiffness) of soft tissues surrounding the injured area, including muscles and connective tissue. As many heating pads are portable, heat may be applied as needed at home, at work, or while traveling. Some physicians recommend alternating heat and ice for pain relief. As with any pain treatment, a physician should be consulted prior to beginning treatment. Heat packs have some of the same effects as ice packs when it comes to treating painful injuries. For example, applying heat to the affected area often reduces inflammation. Additionally, heating the area may provide some pain relief as it decreases the transmission of pain signals to the brain. However, other benefits of using heat packs differ from those of ice packs as well. Instead of limiting the blood coming to the area, heat actually increases the blood flow to that spot. This helps to reduce the stiffness in joints and relieve muscle spasms. Heat packs are also helpful for increasing flexibility and facilitating proper stretching.