Estimation of the Curie Temperature of Nickel Using a Simple Thermodynamic Analysis

An activity is described that uses simple materials and an easy-to-perform protocol to estimate the Curie temperature of nickel, which is the temperature at which nickel loses its ferromagnetism. To do so, an object made of nickel metal is heated with a lighter until it loses its ferromagnetism. The metal is allowed to drop into a beaker that contains a known amount of water at a known temperature. Thermodynamic analysis of the exchange of energy between the metal, water, and beaker allows for an estimate of the Curie temperature of nickel. The activity provides students with the opportunity to explore concepts commonly found in introductory and general chemistry curricula, including thermodynamics and electronic configurations of the elements.