Marc Wierzbitzki

Physics HL

5 April 2011

Finding the resistance of an electrolyte iron sulphate

Aim: With this experiment we want to find the resistance of the electrolyte iron sulphate (concentration: 0.1 mole/litre) by applying the formula . Construction: The circuit has to be constructed as shown in the sketch to the right. The voltage can then be varied with a potential divider and will be measured in parallel to the electrolyte (this is very important since we want to calculate the resistance of the electrolyte and not any other part of the circuit). The ammeter is in series with the electrolyte. As the electrolyte for my experiment, I chose iron sulphate with a concentration of 0.1 mole/litre. It was integrated into the circuit as shown below. Both electrodes are carbon electrodes in this case and to make sure that neither their distance to each other nor the volume which is in contact with the solution is changed, we take two pieces of cardboard and cut four wholes in total. The electrodes can then be tucked through it and the variation will then be negligibly small. To both electrodes, we will attach wires to integrate the electrolyte into the circuit. This will be done by using crocodile clamps and therewith, one electrode becomes an anode and the other one a cathode, the requirement it has to fulfil to be a electrolyte.

Marc Wierzbitzki

Physics HL

5 April 2011

The exact set up that I used for the experiment is shown below.:

Variables: Current Voltage Distance between electrodes the current will vary and be measured with an ammeter (accuracy 3%). The voltage will be changed by using a potential divider as shown in the circuit diagram above. There it will be measured with a voltmeter (accuracy 3%). The distance will be kept constant by using two pieces of cardboard. The two electrodes are 3.2cm 0.2cm (measured from centre to centre with a lineal) thick. They will be plugged through the cardboard where one piece is moved to the top, the other a bit further down to ensure the constant difference between the electrodes (as illustrated in the sketch above). The temperature has to be constant during the whole experiment. This can be ensured by quickly reading off the values from the ammeter and voltmeter and then turning the power off so that the system has no chance to heat up. Furthermore we will pause for at least 50 seconds after each reading to make sure that there is enough time for the circuit to cool down. The system will not be cooled throughout the experiment so before taking another reading, the temperature should be checked and it should be at a constant level the whole time. The temperature I measured was 23C 1C. For the experiment, we used 83 ml 5ml of iron sulphate contained in a beaker. It should be ensured that there is good contact between the electrodes and the iron sulphate. Even though the system might heat up during the measurements, the amount of volume lost is negligible. We will use carbon electrodes with a diameter of 5.12mm and 5.02mm 0.1mm (measured with a micrometre). To make sure that this is the same during the whole experiment, the system will be turned off straight after reading off the values since we noticed (during our tests) that the diameter actually decreases when a gas produced in the reaction attacks the carbon. Iron sulphate with a concentration of 0.1mole/litre. The concentration will not be changed and the solution contained in the beaker will be the same during the whole experiment. A power pack at 2V will be used This is what we want to measure and we will do that by making use

Temperature

Volume of electrolyte

Electrodes

Electrolytic solution Power source Resistance of electrolyte

Marc Wierzbitzki

Physics HL

5 April 2011

of

Method: In addition to the procedures described above, it is very important that no condition changes during the experiment. Therefore it should be ensured that the area is clear of people walking by and the experiment should be done in a room so that there wont be a significant change in temperature. We will measure several different voltages (13 to be exact from 0.07V 3% to 1.34V 3%) and for each voltage, 3 readings will be done. The reading will be measured as follows: after switching on the power supply, wait for 20 seconds (measured with a watch) and then take the reading even though it could still change. Wait at least 50 seconds before taking the next measurement. After noting down the current and the corresponding voltage, the resistance will be calculated by (this can be done since the temperature is constant). Results: Voltage (V) / V
3%

Current (I) / A
3%

1 1.22 1.13 1.00 0.85 0.69 0.60 0.47 0.36 0.26 0.17 0.07 1.34 1.12

2 2.21 1.12 1.00 0.86 0.70 0.61 0.47 0.37 0.26 0.17 0.08 1.34 1.11

3 1.21 1.11 0.99 0.85 0.70 0.60 0.47 0.37 0.26 0.17 0.07 1.34 1.11

1.21 1.12 1.00 0.85 0.70 0.60 0.47 0.37 0.26 0.17 0.07 1.34 1.11

1 0.0012 0.0011 0.0009 0.0008 0.0008 0.0007 0.0005 0.0004 0.0003 0.0002 0.0001 0.0016 0.0009

2 0.0011 0.0011 0.0008 0.0008 0.0007 0.0006 0.0005 0.0004 0.0003 0.0002 0.0001 0.0014 0.0009

3 0.0013 0.0010 0.0009 0.0009 0.0006 0.0006 0.0005 0.0004 0.0003 0.0002 0.0001 0.0014 0.0009

0.0012 0.0011 0.0010 0.0009 0.0007 0.0006 0.0005 0.0004 0.0003 0.0002 0.0001 0.0013 0.0011

Marc Wierzbitzki

Physics HL

5 April 2011

Graph:

R=V/I
1.6
max

1.4

mi

1.2

Voltage (V)

0.8

0.6

y = 1049.9x - 0.0461
0.4

0.2

0 0 0.0002 0.0004 0.0006 0.0008 0.001 Current (A) 0.0012 0.0014 0.0016