ConveCion.

YPT. 77. TO DETERMINE TE MELTING PoINT OF A

OLID BY MEANS OF A THERMO-COUPLE WITH THE HELP
OF A CALIBRATION CURVE.

Theory : The e.m.f generated in a therno-couple when

one end of the thermo-couple is maintained at 0'C while the
other junction is at atemperature 0°C is given by the relation
E
E= .l..... (1)
R+Rp L
where E is the voltage of the driving battery (Fig 7.59), R
is a resistance in series with the battery, Rp is the resistance
of the potentiometer, L_is the totai length of the
potentiometer wire and lis the length against which a<null
point\is obtained (see expt. 761/ Let a calibration curve be
drawn for the given thermo-couple with temperature of the
hot junction as.the abscissa and thermo-electromotive force
as the ordinate. Now suppose that l is the length of the
potentiometer wire for which a null point is obtained when
the hot junction of the thermo-couple is immersed in a bath
of the melting solid, then, the corresponding thermo
electromotive force can be calculated with the help of
equation (1). Knowing E', a horizontal line can be draw
from the point E' on the Y-axis to cut the curve at a certain
482
Practical Physics
point. If now an ordinate be dropped irom this point on h
temperature axis then it will cut the axis at a certain
Let the value of the temperature at this point be
is the required melting point of the solid.
T°C, point.
which
Apparatus : Thermo-couple: potentiometer, battery
resistance boxes, galvanometer, mercury thermometers, key
P.O. box, ice, experinmental solid, beakers, porcelain
crucible, etc.
Description of the apparatus :Same as in expt 76.
Procedure : (i) Arrange the apparatus as shown in Fig
7.59 in the manner described in expt. 76., Repeat the
operations mentioned in (i) to (viii) in expt. 76 (see note).
(ii) Now put some small pieces of the given
solid in a test tube. Introduce the hot junction experimental
test tube so that the soldered portion of the inside the
the middle region of the solid and is jurnction is in
by it. Put the test tube, with the hot completely surrounded
junction and the solid,
inside the sand-bath. Start heating the
sand-bath slowly.
Alternately,the solid with the hot junction of the
thermo-couple in the middle of it and
completely
surrounded by it may be taken in a metallic beaker
porcelain crucible- depending on the melting point ofor a
solid. The solid is then heated directly by a the
(iii) Go on bunsen burner.
determining the balance point every one
minute. It will be noticed that the
continuously to higher valus, But at abalance points shift
become steady. This is the point where certain point it will
continues Le., more and more of the solid imelting starts and
ínto liquid. During this period note gets converted
minute. The heating should be the null points every half
(iv) After a while it will be extremely slow at this point.
adain begins to shift to higher noticed that the balance point
This happens when values and continues to do so.
solid has been convertedthe.melting is complete i.e., all of the
into liuid. The
higher values is due to the continual shift to
heating of the
and allow theliquid.
() Stop the heating nOw
Note the balance point every. halt sand-bath to cool.
will be found to be minute. The balance point
shifting to lower values now. Then at a
certain point the balance point becomes steady again. This is
 483
for Degree Students
balance
the region of complete the
noint begins tofreezing.
shift
After freczing is
to still lower
(vi) Draw two values. and the other for
freezing. with the graphs,
length one for Dotentiometer
of the melting wire as the
ordinate and the time as the Curves will be
Theordinate l of the
similar to those shown in (Fig.abscissa.
7. 64). 1The
horizontal
portion of the curve is the actual null point.
Determnine the
freezing) and ordinate for both the Curves (melting and
take the mean. this value of l, calculate.
by means of Usingthermo-electromotive
developed. equation (1), he force
(vii) Draw the
couple in the manner calibration curve for the given thermo
(only the temperatures described in one ration (x) of expt. 7o
or thesand-hath and the
corresponding
axis, which
e.m.í. should be used), From a point on
tne r
melting of theCorresponds to the e.m.f. developed during the
solid, draw a horizontal
straight line cut the calibration curve at straight line. Let us
point drop an ordinate on the a point. From tns
point. Read out accurately X-axis to cut it at another
the temperature which
corTesponds to the second point, Let TC be its value which
is the required melting
point of the solid.
Note : The metals
should be so selected that constituting the thermo-couple
the temperature to be
is below the neutral measured
temperature of the
thermo-couple. A
copper-iron thermo-couple may be used up to about 250*C
while a copper-constantan may be used up to 400'C.
that an iron-constantan thermo-couple should be .used. Above
For solids having melting pouts below 100°C (e.g., wax
M.P 45C - 56°C(, the sand-bath may be replaced by a
water
bath while calibrating the thermo-couple. In that case,
starting from room temperature, the temperature of the
water-bath may be increased in steps of 5°C or sr " it
Teaches about 95C. The water should be continuou cd
so that the temperatur is niform throughout the bath. In
each step the temperature should be kept constant for a few
minutes bå proper manipulation of the flame. It is better not
to heat the water exactly to its boiling point, otherwise
Steam will be generated. The calibration curve for such a
484 Practical Physics
small temperature difference belween the junctions
(~100C) will be almost a straight line.
Results :
(A) E.m.f. of the drivng batlery, E =.. volls.
Resistance in series with the potentiometer, R =..
ohns.
Resistance of the potentiometer wre, Rp = ... ohms.
(B) Observations for calibration curve.
Make a record as in expt. 76
(C) Balance points with eXperimental solid :
Time in 2 3 etc.
minutes
Balance points
during melting
Balance points
during freezing

Cm
Ha)Melting
in (b) Freezing
Points

-Null

Fig. 7. 64
Balaning length of the potentiometer wire during
melting of the solid as obtainèd fromn the curve, lË = ... Cm.
Balancing length of the potentiometer wire during
Ireezing of the solid as obtained from the curve, l2 =... CM.
Mean balancing length of the potentiometer wire at
melting point of the solid, l= t 2 =... Cm.
 E.m.!. developed with the hot iunction at the met
point of the solid = ... volts (from eqn. 1)
Melting point of the solid (rom calibration curve)
=...C
Discussions : (i) - (vii) same as in expt. 76
(vili) While determining the balance points near ie
melting point, the solid should be heated slowly.
(ix) It is better to obtain the balancng length from the
flat portions of the melting and freezing curves. 1his 1S
because sometimes the value of the balancing lengtns
obtained during melting or freezing are not constant.
Oral Questions andtheir Answers.
(expts. 76 and. 77)
1. What do you mean by Seebeck effect?
See Art. 7.14
2. What are Peltier and Thomson effects?
When a curTent is sent across a therm0-couple, a difference of
temperature is created between the two junctions. This
phenomenon is known as Peltier effect and is the
complimentary phenomenon of Seebe ck effect.
If the two points of the same conductor is maintained at two
different temperatures, then a p.d. is produced between these
two points. This phenomenon is known as Thomson efeci.
3 Name some common thermo-couples and the
range of
temperature upto which they can be used.
Copper-constantan_ 400C. Iron-constantan-800°c
4. Ho does the e.mf. change uhen the
junction is continuously increased?
temperature of the hot
See Art. 7. 14
not are the neutral
5.
temperature
ínversion of a thermo-couple?
and temperature (point) of
See Art. 7.14
Does the neutral
6.
temperature
depend on the temperature of theandcold temperature inversion
of
See Art. 7.14 junction?
7. What are the laws of (i)
intermediate temperatures? intermediate metals and (t)