COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Engineering Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

_____________________________________
CABALLERO, DARYL T. _______________
09/23/21
Family Name First Name Middle Initial Date Submitted

BSCE – 1
____________________________________
M21 2 _______________
ENGR. DANGIN, ROSARIO G.
Course & Year Section Group Instructor
Number

Experiment No. __3__

HEAT OF COMBUSTION
__________________________________
Title of the Experiment

I. Objective/s:
• 1. Compare the heats of combustion of alcohols of different number of
molecular weights using calorimetry.
II. Apparatus:
Digital balance thermometer
Aluminum can iron stand, Iron ring,
Clay triangle alcohol lamp (spirit burner)
25 mL graduated cylinder 4x4" square cardboard with a hole in the
middle
III. Materials: 300 mL distilled water
3 samples of unknown pure alcohol as fuel
IV. Procedure and Observation:

The purpose of the experiment is to evaluate the temperatures of combustion of

alcohols with various molecular weights.

First, pour 100 milliliters of water into an aluminum can with caution. Take note
and record of the water's starting temperature, Ti. Insert the thermometer through
the opening in the aluminum can after covering it with cardboard. Measure and
record the alcohol lamp, which is filled with the alcohol sample that will be used as
fuel, mi. To raise the alcohol lamp, place it on top of a block of wood. Set the clay
shield on top of that, then the clay triangle on top of that. On top of the clay triangle,
place the aluminum can. Ensure that the space between the alcohol lamp's wick and
the aluminum can is around 1cm. Then, heat the water by lighting the alcohol lamp.

Continue to stir the water while it heats up until it boils. Once the water boils,
record the temperature and write it down. When taking the temperature of water, do
not touch the aluminum can. Carefully remove the aluminum can. Then, the alcohol
lamp's flame should be extinguished. After that, continue to gently swirl the water
and note the highest temperature achieved, Tf. Mf, re-evaluate and record the
alcohol lamp/burner. For the other two unknown alcohol samples, repeat steps and
calculate per mole of alcohol the standard enthalpy of combustion (H comb).
Also, calculate the percentage error. Lastly, plot a graph relating the standard
enthalpy of combustion and the number of carbon atoms in an alcohol.
V. Illustration
VI. Tables and Calculations
 VII. Discussion of Results

The experiment was carried out to evaluate and compare the heats of
combustion of alcohols of different number of molecular weights using calorimetry.

Ethanol is frequently added to normal gasoline in an effort to minimize oil

consumption. It has a higher octane rating than normal gas and burns more slowly. It
emits less carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, but it does increase pollution from
other elements in the air. The quantity of energy gained from the combustion of a
volume of natural gas is referred to as the heat of combustion or energy content (James
G. Speight, 2019). In a flow calorimeter, the heat generated by the combustion of a
specified quantity of gas is absorbed by a measured quantity of water or air, and the
heat value of gases in the experiment is typically calculated at constant pressure.

A calorimeter, which burns fuel in the presence of air at constant pressure, may
be used to evaluate the heating value of natural gas or alcohols (James G. Speight,
2019). The components are allowed to cool to their initial temperature before the energy
produced during full combustion is measured. As a result of burning, all hydrogen-
containing fuels produce water vapor, which is then condensed in the calorimeter. In the
experiment, the mass of each alcohol lamp of varying alcohols with different molecular
weights was measured before lighting, and also a 100 mL of water was poured into the
aluminum can that was currently doing the process of heating, the alcohol lamp was
ignited and heated the alcohol samples until it boils, after which the temperature was
increased and the mass of the alcohol lamp was weighed again. Because the alcohol
light emitted heat or energy into the water during heating, causing the temperature to
rise. The greater heating value, also known as the gross heating value, is the resultant
measurement of the heat emitted, and it includes the heat of water vaporization.

Combustion is a high-temperature exothermic (heat-releasing) redox (oxygen-

adding) chemical process involving a fuel and an oxidant, generally ambient oxygen,
that results in oxidized, frequently gaseous products in a mixture known as smoke
(Dillon, Stephanie R., 2013). When the alcohol lamp's initial mass is measured and then
altered after heating the water in the aluminum can, it emits heat that is absorbed by the
water, causing the water to boil and raise its temperature. The standard enthalpy of
combustion and the number of carbons are found to be directly proportional or related
when the same procedure is done to different alcohol samples with varied molecular
weights using the calorimetry.
 VIII. Significance of the Experiment

Knowing how much heat is created in a process like this is helpful in determining
which gas is the most efficient for a particular application. The molar heat of combustion
is the amount of heat produced when one mole of a substance is completely burned.
The connection between molecular weight and molar combustion enthalpy of the
alcohols ethanol and isopropyl is investigated in this experiment. If the molecular weight
of alcohol rises, the molar combustion enthalpy of alcohol increases, according to the
theory. Different types of alcohols were utilized in this experiment, as well as 100 mL of
boiled pure water.

Energy is required to break bonds in the reactants, and heat is given off when
new compounds are created in the products in a reaction mechanism (Bewick, Sharon
et. al, 2021). In chemistry, heat is the most important type of energy. The heat
produced by various combustion processes is critical for providing our society's energy
needs. The quantity of heat energy generated when a particular fuel is burnt is
measured by heat of combustion. In the burning process, the higher the number, the
more heat energy is generated. The more heat energy produced, the faster the
temperature of the heated substance increases.

When it comes to the fuels used in internal combustion engines, the idea of the
heat of combustion of a fuel in the experiment is highly significant. The calorific values
(a value that represents the heat of combustion of the fuel) of the fuels used in internal
combustion engines are often chosen. The higher the heat of combustion of the fuel, the
more power may be produced from it inside the internal combustion.
 IX. References

Speight, James G. Ph.D., D.Sc., “Composition and properties” in Natural Gas (Second
Edition), 2019 from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-
sciences/heat-of-combustion

Dillon, Stephanie R. “The Chemistry of Combustion” in Chemistry for Liberal Studies -

Forensic Academy (2013) from
https://www.chem.fsu.edu/chemlab/chm1020c/Lecture%207/01.php

Bewick, Sharon et. al, Heat of Combustion. (2021, July 9). Retrieved September 23,
2021, from https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/53882