I.

Introduction
Heat flows are measured in an instrument known as a calorimeter. They are insulated to
prevent loss or gain of heat energy between the calorimeter and its surroundings. They contain a
heat sink that can absorb or provide the energy; most of the time the heat sink is water. The heat
flow is calculated in the calorimeter by the temperature of the calorimeter and its contents.
When any substance changes in temperature, the quantity of heat, Q, involved in the temperature
change is given by:
Q=mCT, where m is the mass of the substance, T is the temperature change is
C is the specific heat of the substance.

II. Purpose
The calorimeter constant for a simple coffee-cup calorimeter will be determined, and then
the calorimeter will be used to measure the quantity of heat that flows in several physical and
chemical processes.

III. Procedure
Set up the calorimeter and place about 75mL into the calorimeter. Next heat up about
about 80mL of water into a beaker and heat it up to about 70-80C. Record the temperature of
the cold water while the hot water is heating up. Then remove the water from the heat, let it be
for 2-3 minutes and then record the temperature of the hot water. Put the hot water into the cold
water, and after thirty seconds of stirring, record the highest temperature reached.
IV. Data

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass (volume) of
cold water, g

Temperature of cold
water, C

Mass (volume) of hot

water, g

Temperature of hot
water, C

Final Temperature
Reached, C

Temperature Change,
T

Calorimeter Constant,
J/ C

Mean value of calorimeter constant

V. Questions
1 Why was the calorimeter made from an insulating material like plastic foam? The
calorimeter was made from an insulating material like plastic foam because an
adiabatic system should be created, so that temperature is lost from the system and
put into the surroundings overs time.
2 What is meant by a heat sink in this experiment? What substance was used as the heat
sink? Why? A heat sink in this experiment is the substance that absorbs or
provides the energy in the process and the substance that was used as the heat sink
was water. This is because it has a ready availability and a large heat capacity.
3 What is the significance of the minus sign in Equation 17.2 in the Introduction in Choice
I of this experiment? The minus sign in Equation 17.2 signifies that the hot water is
losing energy and the cold water is gaining energy.
4 The calorie is a unit of heat energy that was formerly used frequently. Look up the
definition of the calorie in your textbook or a handbook and record it here. A calorie is
the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1g of water through 1C.
5 Calculate the calorimeter constant for your calorimeter in calories per degree Celsius.