‫המחלקה להוראת המדעים‬
Name ____________________________
Class ________________
Team members _________________________________________
Research and development of a “Hot-Cold” coffee can
Edited by Dr. Hannah Margel, Dr. Miri Kesner, Ms. Malka Yayoon, Ms. Susanna
David.
Attention: Protective gloves and goggles must be worn
You have read the article about a warming coffee can at:
http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il/g-chem/learnchem
As a research and development team of the “Hot-Cold” company you have to
design a warm or cold coffee can.
You will work in a computerized environment. At the first stages you will be
introduced to the principles of a computerized sensor. You will use such sensors for
the design of the heating/cooling can.
Part A – Sensor – Thermometer – Potential - What is the connection?
1. What is temperature? _________________________________________
2. How is temperature measured? _________________________________
A mercury thermometer or an alchohol thermometer
3. A mercury (alcohol) thermometer is based on the properties of glass and those
of mercury.
a. What are the properties of mercury on which the thermometer is based?
_______________________________________________________________
b. What are the properties of glass on which the thermometer is based?
_______________________________________________________________
c. Why is the tube in which the mercury expands very narrow (a capillary
tube)?__________________________________________________________
.‫ מכון ויצמן למדע‬,‫ המחלקה להוראת המדעים‬,‫כל הזכויות שמורות‬
‫מכון דוידסון לחינוך מדעי‬
 copyright
2
Given the following data:
Material
Melting Temperature ºC
Boiling Temperature ºC
Mercury
-38
357
Alcohol
-114
78
d. What is the temperature range in which Mercury can be used in a thermometer? _________
e. What is the temperature range in which alcohol can be used in a thermometer? _________
In every thermometer the temperature is converted into a variable that can be
quantitatively determined.
For example: in the mercury (alcohol) thermometer we measure the expansion
volume of the mercury (alcohol) in the capillary tube.
Construction of a digital temperature sensor
Every metal has a characteristic electrical potential. When two metals are in contact, a
potential gradient is created due to the difference in potential of each metal. This gradient is
temperature dependent.
In a digital temperature sensor the potential measured in the electrical circuit is
translated to temperature units.
Materials and equipment for construction of a digital temperature sensor
(demonstration)
20cm iron wire, 20cm copper wire, multitester (for potential V measurement), candle,
matches, electrical wires and clips for an electrical circuit, digital thermometer.
Experimental protocol:
a. Wind together the iron and copper wires. Use the electrical wires and clips to
connect the co-wind iron and copper wires to the multitester and measure the
potential in miliVolt units (mV). The measured potential is: ____________
b. Light the candle and warm the co-wind wire into the flame. The measured
potential is: ____________
c. Repeat step b with a temperature sensor connected to the multitester, turn the
multitester switch to temperature measurement.
Predict:
What is the temperature of the candle flame? _______________________________
Is the temperature constant in different areas of the flame? ____________________
If not, where would you expect the temperature to be higher? __________________
2
3
Complete the table:
Area of the flame
Temperature ºC
The outer, brighter part of the flame
The inner, dark area of the flame
The molten wax
The solid wax
Did the result match your predictions?
__________________________________________________________________________
Interpret the results you observed
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Part B – Introduction to a computerized environment
We will measure the temperature using a computer-activated sensor
Experiment A = teacher demonstration
Light the candle.
Switch the logger on
Open the ‘Multilab’ software.
Program the data collector according to the following instructions:
At the top ruler choose ‘collector/restart collector’. A dialog box will open saying ‘restart
wizard step 1 of 3.’ Click ‘next’. The following window will appear
3
4
Set the data collector to a sample rate = 1 second, click ‘next’. The following window will
appear:
Select number of samples = 1000. Click ‘Done’.
Start the data collector by clicking the “running man” icon.
Follow the values that are being recorded by the computer in the graph and the table.
Experiment B = student work
1. Use a graduated cylinder to measure 40ml water, transfer to a Styrofoam cup and add
a magnet. Place the Styrofoam cup in a glass beaker, and place the beaker on the
magnetic stirrer.
2. Start the magnetic stirrer. (Think: what is the purpose of the stirrer? What instrument
that we use in the school lab does it replace?)
3. Insert the sensor in the water.
4. Program the data collector as follows:
Set the temperature sensor to a sample rate=1 second, click ‘next’, select
number of samples = 500. Click ‘Done’. Start the data logger by clicking the
“running man” icon.
5. Put the calcium chloride powder (5gr) in the cup .
6. Follow the temperature measurement. When the temperature is stable, wait 2 minutes
and stop the measurement by clicking ‘STOP’.
7. Copy the output graph by choosing graph \ copy graph at the top ruler.
8. Open a word document. Paste the graph and give it a title. Save the graph in a named
file in folder _________. The graph will be printed from the teacher’s computer.

Write the eqation of the reaction
__________________________________________________________________

Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? ________________________
4
5
Experiment C = student work
Repeat the experiment B with the ammonium nitrate (5gr) powder.
Follow the temperature measurement. When the temperature is stable, wait 2 minutes and
stop the measurement by clicking ‘STOP’.
1. Save the experimental results in the computer.
2. Copy the output graph: by choosing graph \ copy graph at the top ruler. Open a word
document. Paste the graph and give it a title. Save the graph in a named file in folder
_________. The graph will be printed from the teacher’s computer.

Write the chemical formula of the reaction
__________________________________________________________________

Is the reaction exothermic or endothermic? ________________________
Part C – Heating/cooling coffee can design
Based on the research you have been doing, as the research and development
team of the ‘Hot-Cold’ company you now have to design a heating and cooling
coffee can (the coffee temperature should not be higher then 60ºC and the icecoffee temperature should not be lower than 10 ºC).
To determine which materials you will be using, the following data is given:
Reaction
ΔH (Kj/mole)
Dissolution of CaCl2
-82.8
Dissolution of NH4NO3
25.7
Dissolution of NH4NO3
-44
Acid-base neutralization
-55.4
Other than the materials specified in the table, you also have: drinking
soda and citric acid.
5
6
Search for safty information about the materials you chose to work with for the
heating/cooling can in the website:
http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/
or in other MSDS sites (these sites containg safty information about various materials) and
copy the relevant and important details.
(Note: you have to look for each substance according to alphabetical order.)
b. You have the following equipment: cups, made of: plastic, Styrofoam, paper, glass,
metal.
1. Suggest a method to prepate your can (techiquely).
2. Consider the benefits and disadvantages of each of the materials you suggested to make the
can.
3. Calculate the required amount of every material. (no more than 5gr of each material and no
more than 2.5gr if you chose Sodium Hydroxide)
4. Write a detailed proposal, write your name and group number.
5. List the materials and equipment you will need for constructing the can.
6. According to your calculations, what will be the temperature of the hot/cold coffee?
7. Consult your teacher and make changes if necessary.
8. Get your teacher’s approval for your proposed protocol.
9. Submit your required materials and equipment list to the lab technician.
Part D – Heating/cooling coffee can construction


Construct the can
Test if your can fulfils its purpose.
Part E – Heating/cooling coffee can marketing

Plan an advertising campaign for your product: choose an attractive name, provide
scientific data proving the quality of the product. Mention at least three possible used for
the coffee can and reasons to purchase it (refer to the application of your invention to
daily life as well as to its industrial manufacturing)
Part F
Prepare a presentation describing your team project to your class.
6
7
References:
 Activities design by Dr. Oved Kedem, Davidson Institute for Science Education.
 Wonder can – industrial venture

http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il/g-chem/learnchem
 Experiment 18 Chemistry Through Research – Dept. of Science
Education, Weizmann Institute of Science
http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il/g-chem/heker/index.html
 Hershkowitz A., Kaberman T., Sasson A.,(2002) Automated Research Labs
and Molecular Imaging in Chemistry, Dept. of Science Education, Technion.
7