Temperature dropping after exposure to acids? (Urgent!)

Breadetaer · Post by **Breadetaer** » Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:07 am

Hi
I was conducting my rusting out experiment and after being submerged in orange juice for 2 minutes, the steel wools temperature went down by 10 degrees in 15 minutes. Is this right? Is the temperature supposed to drop or rise when exposed to substances like this? Rusting is exothermic, do wouldn't the steel wool's tenpersture drop when it starts rusting?
My science fair is due in 3 weeks and i just found out about this. Help!

Thanks
Breadetaer

kaylimasuda · Post by **kaylimasuda** » Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:41 pm

Hello there!

As the reaction is exothermic, the steel wool should decrease in temperature because it is releasing energy. This also means that the surroundings would increase in temperature, as it is absorbing the released energy.

To answer your question: if you are measuring the temperature of the steel wool, then the decrease in temperature is expected but if you are measuring the temperature of the surroundings, then the temperature should have increased.

I hope that helps!
- Kayli Masuda

Breadetaer · Post by **Breadetaer** » Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:55 am

Thanks for clearing my confusion Kayli!

-Bredetaer

Temperature dropping after exposure to acids? (Urgent!)

Temperature dropping after exposure to acids? (Urgent!)

Re: Temperature dropping after exposure to acids? (Urgent!)

Re: Temperature dropping after exposure to acids? (Urgent!)