Question

A flask is filled with 1.55 L (L = liter) of a liquid at 93.1 °C. When the liquid is cooled to 13.1 °C, its volume is only 1.33 L, however. Neglect the contraction of the flask. What is the coefficient of volume expansion of the liquid?

Answer 1

Solution: given data:

A flask is filled with 1.55 L (L = liter) of a liquid at 93.1 °C.

When the liquid is cooled to 13.1 °C, its volume is only 1.33 L

To find out: What is the coefficient of volume expansion of the liquid?

coefficient of thermal expansion for volume
∆ V / Vo = 3 alpha* ∆T

alpha = coeff of linear expansion of unknown liquid
∆T = T2-T1 (deg C) = 13.1 - 93.1 = - 80
∆ V = V(final) - Vo (initial) = 1.33 - 1.55 = - 0.22 L
Vo = 1.55 L
∆ V / Vo = 3 alpha* ∆T
- 0.22/1.55= 3 alpha* (- 80)

=>alpha=-0.141*/-240

=>alpha=5.875*10^-4deg c^-1
=>alpha = 587.5*10^-6 deg c^-1 answer