A scientist carries out the same exothermic reaction in containers of the same dimensions made from different materials. Each container has the same lid, and the same quantities of reacting chemicals are used each time.
| Container material | Starting temperature in °C | Highest temperature in °C |
|---|---|---|
| P | 18.6 | 29.5 |
| Q | 19.4 | 33.6 |
| R | 18.9 | 31.3 |
Some energy is transferred from every container to the nearby air during the experiment.
Calculate the temperature rise for each container material.
Use your answers to explain which material is the best thermal insulator.
Predict how the temperature rise in a perfectly insulated container would compare with the result for material Q.
85 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 5.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions, covering 5.1.1 Energy transfer during exothermic and endothermic reactions, 5.1.2 Reaction profiles, and 5.1.3 The energy change of reactions. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.