Calibrating Calorimeter [ENDORSED]

[Cadence Chang]

Hi, why do we use the heat capacity of a calibrated calorimeter in order to determine the change in energy of a system?

I've seen a lot of questions that give information about the q of a calorimeter after burning something, and then we use that q to determine the specific heat capacity of that calorimeter by dividing q/∆T. Then we use the equation q = mC∆T to find the change in energy of a neutralization reaction or something, and then we use the heat capacity of the calorimeter.

Why don't we use the heat capacity of the solution instead? Thanks!

[Chem_Mod]

As I discussed in class everything inside the calorimeter changes temperature (not only the solution). Therefore need the heat capacity of the calorimeter.