1.4.2

Calorimetry

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Calorimetry

Calorimetry is used to physically measure changes in enthalpy.

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Bomb calorimetry

  • Bomb calorimetry uses a machine called a bomb calorimeter to measure enthalpy changes of combustion.
  • This process involves burning a sample of a compound in a sealed vessel and measuring the temperature change.
    • Often the calorimeter will just determine the temperature change in the vessel and you will have to calculate the enthalpy change of combustion.
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Inaccuracy

  • Bomb calorimetry can be inaccurate due to:
    • Heat lost to the surroundings.
    • Any incomplete combustion that may take place.
    • Loss of some reactant that evaporates before it combusts.
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Calculating enthalpy changes

  • The equation to calculate enthalpy changes from temperature changes is:
    • q = m × c × ΔT
      • q is the heat energy.
      • m is the mass of the sample.
      • c is the specific heat capacity.
      • ΔT is the temperature change.
  • If the pressure is constant, q = ΔcH
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Calculating enthalpy changes

  • We have calculated q, the energy given off to the surroundings (the enthalpy change).
    • The units of q are Joules.
  • To determine the enthalpy change of combustion, we must convert Joules into the unit of enthalpy change, Joules per mole.
    • Calculate the number of moles:
      • Moles = mass ÷ Mr
      • ΔH = qmoles\frac{q}{moles}

More Calorimetry

Calorimetry is a very useful technique to determine enthalpy changes.

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Different types of calorimetry

  • Calorimetry can also be used to measure other enthalpy changes.
  • We have considered the combustion reaction that gives off heat.
  • We can also measure any reaction that can be done in a sealed vessel.
    • For example, you can measure the enthalpy change of neutralisation of an acid/base reaction.
    • These reactions take place in a solution that can be inside the vessel.
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Accurate temperature changes

  • You might think that the best measurements to record are the initial and final temperatures of your calorimeter.
  • This is not the case.
    • This is because heat is always being lost from the calorimeter so the final and initial temperatures are inaccurate.
  • Instead, measure the temperature loss after the reaction is complete and extrapolate a line to find the true value.
    • This is shown clearly in the image on the next slide.
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Accurate temperature changes

  • Line extrapolation is shown above.

Example Calculations - Calorimetry Experiment

Below are some example calculations based on the calorimetry experiment.

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Combustion of cyclohexane

  • Cyclohexane fuel is burned completely in a calorimeter.
    • There are 200 g of water in the calorimeter.
    • There are 0.5 moles of cyclohexane burnt.
    • The temperature of the water was raised from 298 K to 368 K.
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The calculation

  • The calculation:
    • q = mcΔT
    • q = 200 g x 4.18 Jg-1K-1 × 70 K
    • q = 58520 Joules
  • Enthalpy change of combustion = q ÷ moles
    • ΔH = −58520 J ÷ 0.5 moles
      • Note the minus sign added. This is because we know the reaction is exothermic since the water's temperature was increased.
    • ΔH = −117040 Jmol-1
    • ΔH = −117.04 kJmol-1
      • Note the final units of kJmol-1 as this is more standard.
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Neutralisation reaction

  • Calculate the heat lost/gained during the reaction between H2SO4(aq) and NaOH(aq):
    • 20 cm3 of the acid is added to an insulate container.
    • 30 cm3 of the base is then added.
    • The temperature change is recorded to be 40 K.
      • Assume the density of the solutions to be the same as water, 1 gcm-3.
      • Assume the specific heat capacity is the same as water's, 4.18 Jg-1K-1.
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The calculation

  • Because we have assumed that the density is the same as water, we can calculate the mass of the solution as:
    • 1 cm3 = 1 g
    • (20 + 30) cm3 = 50 g
      • The heat change:
    • q = mcΔT
    • q = (50) g x 4.18 Jg-1K-1 x 40 K
    • q = 8360 Joules
    • q = 8.36 kJ

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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