MUFY Chemistry Unit 2 Electrical Calibration of a Calorimeter

The electrical calibration of a calorimeter

In the electrical calibration of a calorimeter, we add a known quantity of electrical energy by using the circuit and
apparatus shown in Figure 1.

The experimental procedure

The procedure we generally use is as follows. Throughout the procedure, the water must be stirred at a steady rate.

Step 1
Set up the circuit shown in Figure 1 and add 100 mL water to the pot.
Step 2
Take the temperature of the water every 30 seconds until it reaches a steady reading.
This means that the pot, water and so on have all come to the same temperature.
Step 3
Turn on the switch for exactly 2 minutes. Over this time, measure the potential difference, current and temperature
every 30 seconds.
Step 4
Turn off the switch and continue to read the temperature every 30 seconds for the next 3 or 4 minutes.
Step 5
Repeat the procedure if time permits.
Step 6
Graph each set of results to determine the temperature rise.
Figure 2 shows an example of a graph that can be obtained if the calorimeter is well insulated and the heating
process is efficient.

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MUFY Chemistry Unit 2 Electrical Calibration of a Calorimeter

Figure 3 shows an example of a graph that can be obtained if the calorimeter is not well insulated or the heating
process is inefficient. Each graph is annotated to show how it is processed to determine ∆T.

Calculating the calibration factor (Cf) using electrical

calibration
For the calculations, we assume that the electrical energy added to the calorimeter is completely converted to heat
energy, which is then absorbed by all the components present (including the heating coil).

The electrical energy delivered to the calorimeter is given by:

E = VIt

where E = electrical energy delivered (joules, J)

V = mean potential difference across coil (volts, V)
I = mean electrical current flowing in coil (amperes, A)
t = time current is passed (seconds, s)

The heat energy delivered to and absorbed by the calorimeter system is given by:

Heat Energy = Cf X ∆ Tc

where Heat Energy delivered to and absorbed by calorimeter is in Joule (J)

Cf = calibration factor of the calorimeter (J °C–1)
∆Tc = temperature rise during electrical calibration of calorimeter(°C)

Since we assume E = Heat Energy delivered to and absorbed by the calorimeter, we get:

VIt = Cf X ∆Tc

or

VIt
Cf = /∆Tc
AFTER THE ELECTRICAL CALIBRATION IS COMPLETE, THE WIRING IS DISCONNECTED AND
THE REACTION IS PERFORMED WITHIN THE CALORIMETER TO DETERMINE THE ∆H.

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