Science Practice: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

This activity allows for the simple and accurate determination of the heat of vaporization, ΔH_vap, of water at 100°C, and ultimately the approximate strength of a hydrogen bond in boiling water, in kJ·mol^–1.

This empowering activity provides students the opportunity to drive their own lab experience. It allows students to perform research, execute lab techniques and identify an unknown substance.

This lab guides students through taking data and constructing their own heating curve for water. It requires no special equipment, is low prep, is safe, and can even be done at home for homeschool or distance learning. Even though the lab activity itself is relatively simple and straightforward, the concepts still engage students in higher level thinking and gives them important practice with laboratory techniques and forming hypotheses.

In this lab, students are presented with nine unknown substances. By performing a series of tests, analyzing chemical structures, and applying their understanding of how intermolecular forces affect the properties of a substance, students will ultimately determine the identity of each unknown.