Calorimetry

• Calorimetry:

  • Used to measure enthalpy change of combustion
  • Fuel is burned, to raise temp of water
  • Weigh the fuel before and after to measure mass of fuel burnt
  • Energy from fuel is transferred into water & lost to surroundings
• Sources of error:

  • Heat loss from conduction/ inaccuracies in measuring temp
  • Heat loss to surroundings reduced by putting a lid on the calorimeter
  • & Insulating the calorimeter with polystyrene
  • Inaccuracies in calculation because we us the specific heat capacity of water, the calorimeter is not taken into account