CALORIMETRY

J.B. NACOMEL
DEPARTMENT OF MINING, METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
DATE PERFORMED: JUNE 19, 2015

Abstract

Introduction
Heat is the energy transferred
between a system and its surrounding
as a result of the difference in
temperature. The quantity of heat
required to change the temperature of
the system by one degree is called the
heat capacity of the system(C), while
the quantity of heat required to raise
the temperature of 1 gram of a
substance by one degree is called the
specific heat capacity(c). [1]
During chemical reactions, at
constant pressure, the heat involved is
equal to the heat of change or enthalpy
change, H. A negative H tells us that the
reaction is exothermic, one which involves the
evolution of heat while a positive H tells us that the
reaction is endothermic or it absorbs heat. [2]
The enthalpy change that accompanies a
reaction is called the heat of reaction or Hrxn.
[2]There are two ways in which we can be determine
the value Hrxn one is by calculating it by subtracting
the net enthalpy of the products(initial state), from
the net enthalpy of the reactants(final state):
Hrxn =

npHf,p -nrHf,r [3]

Another way is through direct

experimentation. This is done by
measuring
the
heat
flow.
This
measurement of heat flow is called
Calorimetry and the device used to
measure the hear flow is called the
Calorimeter. There are two types of
calorimeter
one
the
Bomb

Calorimeter, keeps a constant volume,

this type of calorimeter is ideal for
measuring the heat evolved in a
combustion reaction, the other type of
Calorimeter is called the CoffeecupCalorimeter which assumes a
constant pressure throughout the
experiment. [2]
In this experiment, we made use of
a Styrofoam ball carved to fit a 6 testtube in which
the given reactions will take place,
this will then be covered by a rubber
stopper with thermometer. [3]
Constant pressure is provided by
the Styrofoam ball thereby classifying
this as a Coffee-cup Calorimeter.
Since
this
is
a
Coffee-cup
Calorimeter, it is adiabatic thus we
have two assumptions: no heat
exchange
occurs
between
the
Calorimeter and the surroundings, and
heat exchange occurs only between the
calorimeter
and
the
reaction
components giving a qsystem of zero.[3]
To accurately measure H, we first
must calibrate the Calorimeter in order to obtain the
heat capacity(Ccal) using a reaction from a strong
acid and a strong base:
H+(aq) + OH-(aq)

H2O(l) H= -55.85 kJ/mol

qcal =CcalT
qrxn = nHrxn
qcal = -qrxn
Using these equations, we can compute for heat
capacity of the Calorimeter with T being the

change in temperature observed during the

experiment. Furthermore, the H in each of the
reactions can then be computed by using the
obtained Ccal from the Calibration.
Another function of the Calorimetry, aside form
determining H, is the determination of the specific
heat of a metal cmetal. This is done by dropping a
piece of metal into a Calorimeter containing water,
at this initial point these two have different
temperatures. The heat will flow from the metal to
the Calorimeter until the temperature will stabilize.
No heat will enter or leave the system. Once
stabilized the whole system will have the same final
temperature and the heat capacity of the metal can
be computed by using this equation:
Cmetal= -(mwater)(cwater)(Tf-Tiwater)
mmetal(Tf-Timetal)
All in all this experiment aims to recall the use
of the Calorimeter which was first introduced in
Chem 16, to determine the enthalpy of a reaction
through calorimetry and to determine the heat of a
metal and to assess its purity. [3]
Methodology
Results and discussion
Conclusion and recommendation
References
[1] Petrucci, R. H., Herring F. G. Madura, J. D.,
Bissonnette, C. General Chemistry: Principles and
Modern Applications, 10th ed. Pearson Education.
Canada. 2011.
[2] Brown, LeMay, Bursten, Murphy, Woodward,
Chemistry: The Central Science 12th ed. Pearson
Education. 2014.
[3] Institute of Chemistry. General Chemistry II
Laboratory Manual. Institute of Chemistry,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City,
Philippines.