Calorimeter Values

[Linette Choi 3L]

Can someone break down what we can assume about a calorimeter in terms of values of volume, pressure, temperature, etc. when we're given a problem that involves one?

[Simrah_Ahmed1J]

We can assume a calorimeter has constant pressure and usually constant volume as well because you're assuming it is a bomb calorimeter. It's the heat/temperature that changes inside the calorimeter as the reaction progresses, so that's why we use the C_cal= q/ΔT equation.

[Hannah_Kim_1I]

Since calorimeters are isolated systems, you can assume there is no external temperature influence or change in amount of substance.

[Sofia Azmat 1I]

It really depends on what the question is asking you to find. There is constant-volume calorimetry and constant-pressure calorimetry and maybe in the question you're being asked to calculate the change in internal energy or a change in enthalpy. A general assumption you can make is that a calorimeter is an ISOLATED system so no heat is being transferred between the calorimeter and its outside environment. I recommend reading through this for specific differences between the two and how they are related to heat capacity.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/bound ... lorimetry/