Standards Aligned

Science

• MS-PS1.A. Structure and Properties of Matter: The changes of state that occur with variations in
  temperature or pressure can be described and predicted using these models of matter.
• HS-LS2-3. Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of
  energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
• HS-CCC 5. Energy and Matter Tracking energy and matter flows, into, out of, and within systems helps
  one understand their system’s behavior. Energy drives the cycling of matter within and between systems.

Learning Objectives

• Determine the percent ethanol in the distillate sample.
• Determine the total volume of ethanol collected.
• Determine the energy density of student’s distillate samples.

Materials

• Top Fuel PowerPoint
• Top Fuel Student Handout
• Ring stand
• Evaporating dish (link to order)
• Graduated cylinder or volumetric pipet
• Balance
• Thermometer or Vernier Go Temp
• 12 oz. soda can
• Distilled water
• Goggles or safety glasses

Safety Considerations

Ethanol is highly combustible. When it is exposed to open flames or heat sources can result in fire. When burning samples make certain that other ethanol samples are safely stored away from the flame.

• Eye protection should be worn at all times.
• Heated glassware and lab apparatus can cause burns. Be careful to allow time to cool.
• Keep hands, clothing and hair away from the open flames.

Procedure for Instructions

1. After distillation record the total volume of the distillate collected.
2. Determine the density of the distillate.
3. This can be determined by several methods. In any case it will involve carefully measuring the volume of a sample and determining its mass. Density is calculated by dividing the mass in grams by the volume in milliliters.
   1. Use a graduated cylinder to record the total volume of distillate collected.
   2. Place a 10 ml graduated cylinder on a balance and tare, or zero the balance.
   3. Add approximately 9.5 mL of the distillate and record the volume to the hundredths of a mL. (3 significant digits)
   4. Record the mass of the sample in grams.
   5. Calculate the density of the distillate by dividing the mass by the volume.

Alternate procedure using pipette.

1. Use a graduated cylinder to record the total volume of distillate collected.
2. Place the evaporating dish on a balance and tare, or zero the balance.
3. Using a pipette, add approximately 9.5 mL of the distillate and record the volume to the hundredths of a ml. (3 significant digits)
4. Record the mass of the sample in grams.
5. Calculate the density of the distillate by dividing the mass by the volume.
6. Use the Percent ethanol by density calculator to determine the percent ethanol by volume.
7. Multiply the total sample volume by the percentage to determine the total ethanol collected.

Procedures for Lab

Top Fuel Lab- Testing fuel energy density using calorimetry. This lab is adapted from “Soda Can Calorimetry” Flinn Scientific

1. Mass an empty. clean soda can.
2. Using a graduated cylinder. Measure and add 100.0 mL of water to the soda can. Measure and record the mass of the water.
3. Pour the sample of ethanol used to calculate density into a clean evaporating dish. Record the volume.
4. Place the evaporating dish on the base of a support stand.
5. Bend the tab on the soda can and slide a glass stirring rod through the hole. Suspend the can on a support stand using a metal ring (see Figure 2). Adjust the height of the can so that it is about 2.5 cm above the evaporating dish.
6. Insert a thermometer into the can. Measure and record the initial temperature of the water.
7. Light the ethanol sample and center it under the soda can. Allow the water to be heated until the ethanol stops burning. Record the maximum (final) temperature of the water in the can.
8. Measure and record the final mass of the food holder and sample.
9. Allow the can and dish to cool and remove any liquid from the dish.
10. (Optional) Repeat steps 1–9 with another sample of distillate.

Sources

• f9560a5fc7ef4a6b8f4598fea30626eb (flinnsci.com)

Disclaimer

Any educator electing to perform demonstrations is expected to follow NSTA Minimum Safety Practices and Regulations for Demonstrations, Experiments, and Workshops, which are available at https://static.nsta.org/pdfs/MinimumSafetyPracticesAndRegulations.pdf, as well as all school policies and rules and all state and federal laws, regulations, codes and professional standards. Educators are responsible for abiding appropriate legal standards and better professional practices under a duty of care to make laboratories and demonstrations in and out of the classroom as safe as possible. If in doubt, do not perform the demonstrations.