Calorimeter

[Kayla Tchorz-Dis 1F]

Can someone explain to me the importance and function of a calorimeter? Is this something that will be a big topic in our upcoming problems?

[Kevin Ru 1D]

A calorimeter is how we measure specific heat capacity. The coffee cup calorimeter measures heat under conditions of constant pressure while the bomb calorimeter measures heat under constant volume. Not sure about your second question, but I do suspect that we'll see more of it in problems and application.

[Rachel Brown 3A]

This probably won't be a huge topic but simply more of an example for how specific heat is measured. The example gives you a little more depth into understanding that specific heat capacity is an intensive property (meaning it doesn't depend on the amount of substance)

[Mitch Walters]

It is a way of measuring a specific form of energy.

[Frenz Cabison 1B]

We use a calorimeter to measure the amount of heat energy, which I think we can then use to calculate the specific heat of a substance.

[Sarah Rutzick 1L]

Calorimeters are used to find unknown variables in the q=mCΔT equation, such as specific heat or energy of the reaction.

[Scout_2C]

I think (pls don't kill me if I'm wrong, but please correct me if I am) that when we are told that a calorimeter is involved, it will tell us the eternal conditions and tell us what kind of system it is. So a 'bomb calorimeter' is a closed system and a 'coffee calorimeter' is an open system that usually functions at a constant pressure. Idk. And like the others said these are used to measure the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes.

[aaron tang 2K]

calorimeter is used to measure specific heat capacity. In the example of the coffee cup calorimeter, heat is measured under conditions of constant pressure and in the bomb calorimeter, heat is measured under conditions of constant pressure. Use Q=m x C x Delta T

[Justin Folk 3I]

The calorimeter is usually calibrated well so that there is little heat lost that is not absorbed by the substance you are measuring heat. Thus you can measure the heat of a reaction, and thus you can also measure the heat per mole (by measuring the amt. of substance consumed)

[Guangyu Li 2J]

Most people believe that the calorimeter was first used by French chemist Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier to determine the calorific value of a guinea pig. The heat released by the guinea pig melted the surrounding snow of the calorimeter that proves that the exchange between the system and the surroundings. In modern thermodynamics, it is mainly used for measuring the heat of the chemical reactions and physical changes. It can also measure the heat capacity and the enthalpy change. As a result, it is a really important equipment in calorimetry and thermodynamics.

Hope this helps!

[Amelia Georgius 1K]

A calorimeter can measure energy that will be used in calculations.