3.6.6
Calorimetry
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Calorimetry
Calorimetry is used to physically measure changes in enthalpy.

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.

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.

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.
- q = m × c × ΔT
- If the pressure is constant, q = ΔcH

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 =
- Calculate the number of moles:
Example Calculations - Calorimetry Experiment
Below are some example calculations based on the calorimetry experiment.

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.

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.
- ΔH = −58520 J ÷ 0.5 moles

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.

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
1Principles of Science I
1.1Structure & Bonding
1.1.1Atomic Model1.1.2Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals1.1.3Ionic Bonding1.1.4Representing Ionic Bonds1.1.5Covalent Bonding1.1.6Representing Covalent Bonds1.1.7Metallic Bonding1.1.8Intermolecular Forces1.1.9Intermolecular Forces 21.1.10End of Topic Test - Bonding1.1.11Relative Masses1.1.12The Mole1.1.13Molar Calculations1.1.14Molar Calculations 21.1.15Empirical & Molecular Formulae1.1.16Balanced Equations1.1.17Percentage Yield1.1.18End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance
1.2Properties of Substances
1.2.1The Periodic Table1.2.2Ionisation Energy1.2.3Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies1.2.4Trends of Ionisation1.2.5Trends in the Periodic Table1.2.6Polarity1.2.7Metals & Non-Metals1.2.8Alkali Metals1.2.9Alkaline Earth Metals1.2.10Reactivity of Alkaline Earth Metals1.2.11Redox1.2.12Transition Metals1.2.13Redox Reactions of Transition Metals
1.3Cell Structure & Function
1.4Cell Specialisation
1.5Tissue Structure & Function
1.5.1Human Gas Exchange1.5.2Blood Vessels1.5.3Atherosclerosis1.5.4Skeletal Muscle1.5.5Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres1.5.6Neurones1.5.7Speed of Transmission1.5.8Action Potentials1.5.9End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials1.5.10Synapses1.5.11Types of Synapse1.5.12Medical Application1.5.13End of Topic Test - Synapses1.5.14Chemical Brain Imbalances1.5.15Effect of Drugs on the Brain
1.6Working with Waves
1.7Waves in Communication
2Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
3Science Investigation Skills
3.1Scientific Processes
3.2Data Handling & Analysis
3.3Enzymes in Action
3.4Diffusion
3.5Plants & Their Environment
3.6Energy Content in Fuels
4Principles of Science II
4.1Extracting Elements
4.2Relating Properties to use of Substances
4.3Organic Chemistry
4.4Energy Changes in Industry
4.5The Circulatory System
4.5.1The Circulatory System4.5.2Blood Vessels4.5.3Blood Transfusion & the ABO Rhesus System4.5.4The Heart4.5.5The Cardiac Cycle4.5.6Cardiac Output4.5.7Coordination of Heart Action4.5.8Heart Dissection4.5.9Controlling Heart Rate4.5.10Electrocardiograms4.5.11Cardiovascular Disease4.5.12Investigating Heart Rates
4.6Ventilation & Gas Exchange
4.7Urinary System
4.9Thermal Physics
4.9.1Power & Efficiency4.9.2Work & Energy4.9.3Conservation of Energy4.9.4Pressure4.9.5First Law of Thermodynamics4.9.6Second Law of Thermodynamics4.9.7Heat Engines, Heat Pumps & Refrigerators4.9.8Non-Flow Processes4.9.9p-V Diagrams4.9.10Ideal Gases4.9.11Ideal Gases 24.9.12Thermal Energy Transfer4.9.13Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments
4.10Materials
5Contemporary Issues in Science
5.1Contemporary Issues in Science
5.2Analysing Scientific Information
Jump to other topics
1Principles of Science I
1.1Structure & Bonding
1.1.1Atomic Model1.1.2Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals1.1.3Ionic Bonding1.1.4Representing Ionic Bonds1.1.5Covalent Bonding1.1.6Representing Covalent Bonds1.1.7Metallic Bonding1.1.8Intermolecular Forces1.1.9Intermolecular Forces 21.1.10End of Topic Test - Bonding1.1.11Relative Masses1.1.12The Mole1.1.13Molar Calculations1.1.14Molar Calculations 21.1.15Empirical & Molecular Formulae1.1.16Balanced Equations1.1.17Percentage Yield1.1.18End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance
1.2Properties of Substances
1.2.1The Periodic Table1.2.2Ionisation Energy1.2.3Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies1.2.4Trends of Ionisation1.2.5Trends in the Periodic Table1.2.6Polarity1.2.7Metals & Non-Metals1.2.8Alkali Metals1.2.9Alkaline Earth Metals1.2.10Reactivity of Alkaline Earth Metals1.2.11Redox1.2.12Transition Metals1.2.13Redox Reactions of Transition Metals
1.3Cell Structure & Function
1.4Cell Specialisation
1.5Tissue Structure & Function
1.5.1Human Gas Exchange1.5.2Blood Vessels1.5.3Atherosclerosis1.5.4Skeletal Muscle1.5.5Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres1.5.6Neurones1.5.7Speed of Transmission1.5.8Action Potentials1.5.9End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials1.5.10Synapses1.5.11Types of Synapse1.5.12Medical Application1.5.13End of Topic Test - Synapses1.5.14Chemical Brain Imbalances1.5.15Effect of Drugs on the Brain
1.6Working with Waves
1.7Waves in Communication
2Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
3Science Investigation Skills
3.1Scientific Processes
3.2Data Handling & Analysis
3.3Enzymes in Action
3.4Diffusion
3.5Plants & Their Environment
3.6Energy Content in Fuels
4Principles of Science II
4.1Extracting Elements
4.2Relating Properties to use of Substances
4.3Organic Chemistry
4.4Energy Changes in Industry
4.5The Circulatory System
4.5.1The Circulatory System4.5.2Blood Vessels4.5.3Blood Transfusion & the ABO Rhesus System4.5.4The Heart4.5.5The Cardiac Cycle4.5.6Cardiac Output4.5.7Coordination of Heart Action4.5.8Heart Dissection4.5.9Controlling Heart Rate4.5.10Electrocardiograms4.5.11Cardiovascular Disease4.5.12Investigating Heart Rates
4.6Ventilation & Gas Exchange
4.7Urinary System
4.9Thermal Physics
4.9.1Power & Efficiency4.9.2Work & Energy4.9.3Conservation of Energy4.9.4Pressure4.9.5First Law of Thermodynamics4.9.6Second Law of Thermodynamics4.9.7Heat Engines, Heat Pumps & Refrigerators4.9.8Non-Flow Processes4.9.9p-V Diagrams4.9.10Ideal Gases4.9.11Ideal Gases 24.9.12Thermal Energy Transfer4.9.13Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments
4.10Materials
5Contemporary Issues in Science
5.1Contemporary Issues in Science
5.2Analysing Scientific Information
Practice questions on Calorimetry
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Which of the following does bomb calorimetry measure?Multiple choice
- 2Sources errors in calorimetry:Fill in the list
- 3
- 4
- 5
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