CALORIMETRY
EXPERIMENT NO. 1
Objective
At the end of the experiment the students are expected to use an electric calorimeter to
measure the heat capacity of unknown sample
Introduction
In this experiment the energy starts from the battery stored as chemical energy becomes
electrical energy when a current is created, and then is converted into heat/thermal energy through
the wire in the calorimeter. The heat energy is absorbed by the unknown sample causing the
temperature of the sample to rise.
Topics You Should Familiar With
Calorimetry
Joule’s Law
Ohm’s Law
Reagents
175 ml of unknown sample
Glassware
100 ml Graduated cylinder
400 ml Beaker
Materials
6V Battery
Fuse/Test wire (probably with alligator clips)
Equipment
Electric Calorimeter
Current and Voltage Multi-meter
Thermometer
Experimental Procedure
Setting up the Calorimeter
1. Remove the aluminum cup from inside the calorimeter.
a. Some of the heat energy will be used to heat the aluminum cup, rather than the
water, if it is left in the calorimeter.
2. Place the thermometer in the rubber stopper on top of the calorimeter.
a. Use a drop of liquid soap to lubricate the thermometer, if needed.
3. Add 175 mL of distilled water to the calorimeter.
4. Place the top on the calorimeter so that the thermometer and the heating wire are immersed
in the water.
Attaching the Multimeter to the Battery
1. Set the multimeter to read DC current.
a. The current will be in the range of 1 to 3 amps.
b. Make sure the probes are inserted into the correct sockets (holes) on the multimeter
to read DC current.
c. For more information about how to use and read a multimeter, visit the Science
Buddies resource How to Use a Multimeter.
2. Attach the red lead (wire) from the multimeter to the positive terminal on the 6-V battery
(see Figure 1, wire A). Use a test wire with alligator clips, if needed.
Figure 1. Wiring diagram for calorimeter. Note that the multi-meter is part of the circuit. The wire
will start to heat up when wire C is attached to the calorimeter.
3. Attach the black lead from the multimeter to one of the metal stems attached to the heating
wire of the calorimeter (See Figure 1, wire B). Don't worry about the colors of the wires. The
multimeter will be able to read the current either way.
4. Attach a 14-inch test wire with alligator clips to the black (negative) terminal on the battery
(See Figure 1, wire C). Don't attach the other end to the calorimeter yet.
Figure 2. Calorimeter setup. The calorimeter, 6-V battery, and multimeter are shown. The
multimeter is set to read DC current in the range of 1 to 10 amps.
Warming the Water
1. Read the temperature of the water. It should be near room temperature. Note the
temperature and time in your lab notebook.
2. Turn on the multimeter.
3. Start the timer.
4. Attach the other end of the wire from the black terminal of the 6-V battery to the unused
stem on the calorimeter. Current should start to flow.
5. Record the current and time in your lab notebook. The resistance of the wire is
approximately 2–3 ohms, so according to Ohm's law, the current will be in the range of 2–3
amps.
Recording the Temperature Change Over Time
1. Watch the thermometer to note change in temperature.
2. Mix the water with the stirrer every minute or so. If the stirrer hits the metal wire, adjust its
position.
3. Record the time, the current, and the temperature in your lab notebook every 2 minutes.
a. Feel free to take more readings, such as every minute.
4. When the temperature has increased by 10 degrees Celsius, disconnect the battery from the
calorimeter.
Repeating the Procedure
1. Put fresh room-temperature water in the calorimeter.
2. Perform the entire procedure above two more times to demonstrate that your results are
repeatable.
Analyzing Your Results
1. Calculate the specific heat capacity of water, using Equation 2 from the Introduction.
a. T2 is the final temperature, and T1 is the starting temperature.
b. If the current varied between readings, use the average value.
c. m is the mass of water in the calorimeter, which will be 175 grams (g) if you used 175
mL.
2. Average the results of your three trials to get your final value.
3. Look up the specific heat capacity of water. How does your value compare to the published
value?
