Designing a Hand Warmer—Advanced Inquiry Laboratory Kit

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Big Idea 5, Investigation 12, Primary Learning Objective 5.7. From instant cold packs to flameless ration heaters and hand warmers, the energy changes accompanying physical and chemical transformations have many consumer applications. The backbone of these applications is calorimetry—measuring heat transfer.In this advanced inquiry lab, students investigate the energy changes accompanying the formations of solutions for common laboratory salts, and then apply the results to design a hand warmer that is reliable, safe, nontoxic, and inexpensive. The students begin by familiarizing themselves with the principles of calorimetry and heat of solution calculations. The results provide a model for the guided-inquiry challenge. Students are given a series of solids, along with their costs and individual Safety Data Sheets (SDS). The challenge is to determine the heat of solution for each solid and analyze the cost and safety information to propose a design for the best, all-around hand warmer. Students love a challenge—this design challenge will surely inspire creativity! Complete for 24 students working in pairs. Common laboratory equipment is required and available separately.