Tom Healy

Mr. Howard F/G Block

A.P. Chemistry
Lab Performed:1/8/13
Lab Partner: Jason Shaheen
Hand Warmer Lab
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the best alternative
chemical, besides sodium acetate, that would make the best hand warmer. In
doing so, we took into consideration:
o How much heat the chemical produced
o The environmental safety / toxicity of the chemical
o The cost (per one gram) of the chemical
Procedure
1. Obtain a pair of safety glasses upon entering the lab
2. Connect the vernier thermometer to the laptop
3. Place one polystyrene foam coffee cup into the other.
4. Place the two nested cups into the beaker for support.
5. Poke a small hole in the center of the coffee cup cover (big enough for the
thermometer to fit through).
6. Fill the coffee cup with 150. mL of water
7. Place the thermometer into the coffee cup and record the initial temperature
of the water
8. Add 1.00 gram of one of the solid chemicals into the cup
9. Put the cover back on the cup and then slide the thermometer through the
hole and into the cup. Make sure that the tip of the thermometer is not
touching the bottom of the coffee up.
10. After the temperature reading has stabilized, record the temperature of the
Rinse out the coffee cup thoroughly.
11. Repeat this procedure with the same solid three times (steps 5-9)
12. Repeat this procedure then with all of the other chemicals three times each.
(steps 5-9)

Data and Observations



Chemical Cost
Ammonium Nitrate $15.55 for 500 g
Calcium Chloride $15.45 for 2 Kg
Lithium Chloride $14.20 for 100 g
Magnesium Sulfate $ 19.20 for 2 Kg
Sodium Acetate $ 5.55 for 100 g
Sodium Carbonate $9.95 for 500 g
Sodium Chloride $31.75 for 12 Kg

Chemical Solids: Temperature Changes (Celsius)

NaCl Initial Temperature Final Temperature
1st trial - 16.90 16.70
2nd trial- 15.70 15.50
3rd trial- 15.70 15.50





NH4NO3 Initial Temperature Final Temperature
1st trial - 16.80
16.20
2nd trial- 15.60 15.30
3rd trial -15.70 15.30







MgSO4 Initial Temperature Final Temperature
1st trial - 16.80 17.00
2nd trial - 15.30 15.50
3rd trial - 15.80 15.80





Na2CO3 Initial Temperature Final Temperature
1st trial - 16.40 16.40
2nd trial - 14.50 14.50
3rd trial - 14.60 14.70
Observation: small, grainy, white particles
Observation: small, white, and circular
pellets
Observation: flaky, white solid







NaC2H3O2 Initial Temperature Final Temperature
1st trial - 15.20 15.50
2nd trial - 15.20 15.60
3rd trial - 15.20 15.60





CaCl2 Initial Temperature Final Temperature
1st trial - 15.40 15.90
2nd trial - 15.50 16.00
3rd trial - 15.60 16.20






Calculations
CaCl2 1
st
trial
o qrxn = -qrxn
o qrxn = -(mass) (c) ( T)
(1.00 g) (4.18 J/g Celsius) ( .500 Celsius)
= 2.09 J or .00209 kJ
o qrxn / mass of sample
.00209 kJ / 1.00 g
.00209 kJ per gram
o (kJ per gram) ( gram per dollar)
(.00209 kJ/g) ($.00772/ g)
.0000160 kJ / $ or 1.60 x 10
-5
kJ / $




Observation: small, white and flakey particles
with a shredded appearance
Observation: Fine, white powder
Observation: small crushed, white particles; resembles
broken plaster










Hand warmer Lab


Sample
Mass of Sample
(g)
Cost
(g/$)
Mass of H2O
(g)
T (Degrees
C)
q of reaction
(kJ)
Energy/gram
(kJ/g)
Energy/dollar
(kJ/$)
NaCl Sample 1 1.00 0.00265 150 -0.200 -8.37E-04 -8.37E-04 -0.00000221805
NaCl Sample 2 1.00 0.00265 150 -0.200 -8.37E-04 -8.37E-04 -0.00000221805
NaCl Sample 3 1.00 0.00265 150 -0.200 -8.37E-04 -8.37E-04 -0.00000221805
NH4NO3 Sample 1 1.00 0.0311 150 -0.600 -2.51E-03 -2.51E-03 -0.000078061
NH4NO3 Sample 2 1.00 0.0311 150 -0.300 -1.26E-03 -1.26E-03 -0.000039186
NH4NO3 Sample 3 1.00 0.0311 150 -0.400 -1.67E-03 -1.67E-03 -0.000051937
MgSO4 Sample 1 1.00 0.00960 150 0.000 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0
MgSO4 Sample 2 1.00 0.00960 150 0.000 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0
MgSO4 Sample 3 1.00 0.00960 150 0.000 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0
Na2CO3 Sample 1 1.00 0.0199 150 0.000 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0
Na2CO3 Sample 2 1.00 0.0199 150 0.000 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0
Na2CO3 Sample 3 1.00 0.0199 150 0.100 4.18E-04 4.18E-04 0.0000083182
NaC2H302 Sample
1 1.00 0.0555 150 0.300 1.26E-03 1.26E-03 0.00006993
NaC2H302 Sample
2 1.00 0.0555 150 0.400 1.67E-03 1.67E-03 0.000092685
NaC2H302 Sample
3 1.00 0.0555 150 0.400 1.67E-03 1.67E-03 0.000092685
CaCl2 Sample 1 1.00 0.00772 150 0.500 2.09E-03 2.09E-03 0.0000161348
CaCl2 Sample 2 1.00 0.00772 150 0.500 2.09E-03 2.09E-03 0.0000161348
CaCl2 Sample 3 1.00 0.00772 150 0.600 2.51E-03 2.51E-03 0.0000193772

Results/Conclusion
From the experiment, we determined that sodium chloride is both the safest
and cheapest solution. However, the reaction with sodium chloride is exothermic
and therefore would not cause the hand warmer to produce heat. For this reason,
calcium chloride is the best solution because it produces the most heat, is
reasonably priced and is safe with a very low toxicity.