2.

3 Measuring Enthalpy Changes

 Calorimetry: Measuring the energy changes of reactions.
 A calorimeter is a piece of apparatus designed to measure the heat energy
absorbed or given out in a chemical reaction.
 Can be either sophisticated pieces of apparatus. (Bomb Calorimeter) or
simple lab setup.

Simple Calorimeter BOMB Calorimeter

 Simple Calorimetry: This method involves burning a known mass of fuel and using
the energy given out to heat a known mass of water.
 We can use the specific heat capacity to work out the enthalpy of combustion.
 Specific heat capacity of a substance – The energy required to raise the
temperature of 1g of the substance by 1K.
 The specific heat capacity of water is 4.2 J g-1 K-1 (joules per gram per Kelvin)
 Calculating ∆Hc: To calculate ∆Hc use the formula :

Q=mc∆T

o Q= energy transferred (J)

o M= mass of water/item (g)
o C=specific heat capacity of water (4.2J g-1 K-1)
o ∆T= change in temperature (K)