Calorimetry—Measuring the change in temperature of a substance to determine the heat change of a reaction.
One simple example of this is the coffee cup calorimetry lab that many science classes include. This involves measuring the temperature of water inside a coffee cup, adding some substances in for the reaction to occur, waiting a certain amount of time (or until the reaction ends, usually signified by the end of the change, like bubbling stopping or color stabilizing), then taking the temperature again. If the liquid being used to measure remains a liquid throughout, it is safe to use the simple formula Q= mcdeltaT.
Another type of calorimetry is bomb calorimetry. Note that in coffee cup calorimetry the pressure remains constant while the volume may change. In bomb calorimetry, the volume remains constant while the pressure changes.
Applications:
One simple example of this is the coffee cup calorimetry lab that many science classes include. This involves measuring the temperature of water inside a coffee cup, adding some substances in for the reaction to occur, waiting a certain amount of time (or until the reaction ends, usually signified by the end of the change, like bubbling stopping or color stabilizing), then taking the temperature again. If the liquid being used to measure remains a liquid throughout, it is safe to use the simple formula Q= mcdeltaT.
Another type of calorimetry is bomb calorimetry. Note that in coffee cup calorimetry the pressure remains constant while the volume may change. In bomb calorimetry, the volume remains constant while the pressure changes.
Applications:
- Used in food science to test the calories of different foods
- Used in chemistry to measure the heat of reaction
- Used in medicine to measure individuals’ metabolic rates
