Carlos Hilado Memorial State University

Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus

To be a leading GREEN institution of higher learning in the global community by 2030

(Good governance, Research-oriented, Extension-driven, Education for Sustainable Development & Nation-building)

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Department of Civil Engineering

ENCHEM 111 LABORATORY REPORT

Ind No Name: Title of Experiment:

ENCHEM 111 -Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory Experiment No. ___

Term: 1st 2nd Summer SY: Date Performed: Rating:

Course: Year/Section: Group No: Instructor:

DETERMINATION OF THE HEAT OF COMBUSTION OF ALCOHOLS - I

Experiment No. 2

LEARNING OUTCOME:
To investigate the heat of combustion of four alcohols

TOPIC DETAILS/DISCUSSION:
Alcohols can be used as fuels as they readily undergo combustion and release heat
energy
Alcohols react with oxygen in the air when ignited and undergo complete
combustion to form carbon dioxide and water
Ethanol for example combusts in excess oxygen:

alcohol + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

CH3CH2OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O

Some alcohols are better fuels than others i.e. they release more heat energy per
mole than other alcohols
Calorimetry studies can be performed to investigate the efficiency of alcohol fuels
by measuring how much of each alcohol is needed to raise the temperature of a fixed
amount of water by a set number of degrees
Lower alcohols burn with an almost invisible flame and make good fuels
Ethanol can be produced sustainably as a fuel by the fermentation of sugars
However, the energy density (the amount of energy in kJ per kg of fuel) is lower
than gasoline so cars that run on ethanol must either have a larger fuel tank or fill up
more often
 Carlos Hilado Memorial State University
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus

To be a leading GREEN institution of higher learning in the global community by 2030

(Good governance, Research-oriented, Extension-driven, Education for Sustainable Development & Nation-building)

Blending ethanol with gasoline or diesel increases the energy density and makes it

safer in case of fires as it is easier to see the flames compared to pure ethanol burning
However, they are socio-economic concerns about using large quantities of farm
land to produce crops for fermentation, which could be better used for food production

MATERIALS:
Copper calorimeter can with lid, thermometer, water, spirit burner, balance
Supply of ethanol, propanol, butanol and pentanol

DIAGRAM: 

A simple combustion calorimeter

METHOD:
1. Using a measuring cylinder, place 100 cm3 of water into a copper can

2. Record the initial temperature of the water and the mass of the empty burner

3. Fill the burner with the test alcohol and record its new mass

4. Place the burner under the copper can, light the wick and place the lid on

5. Stir the water constantly with the thermometer (calorimeter lids allow for this) and
continue heating until the temperature rises by 25 ºC 

6. Immediately extinguish the flame and measure and record the mass of the spirit
burner

7. Repeat procedure for other alcohols, making sure the variables are kept the same:
Volume of water (water should be changed each time)
Distance between wick and bottom of stand
 Carlos Hilado Memorial State University
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus

To be a leading GREEN institution of higher learning in the global community by 2030

(Good governance, Research-oriented, Extension-driven, Education for Sustainable Development & Nation-building)

8. Record your results neatly in tabular format

RESULTS:
 Different amounts of the four alcohols will be needed to achieve the same
temperature rise.

 Calculate the mass change for each alcohol in the spirit burner.
Use the calorimetry equation to find the heat of combustion of the alcohols in kJ per
gram or kJ per mole:

Enthalpy change equation:  Q = m x c x ΔT

where:

o Q – energy transferred to water

o m – mass of water heated
o c –  the specific heat capacity – is the amount of heat needed to raise the
temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 oC.
 For water, the value is 4.18 J g-1 C-1 (Joules per gram per degree Celsius).
o ∆T – change in temperature

 When you have found Q you have calculated amount of heat released to burn the mass
of alcohol in the experiment

 You can then work out:

The amount of heat released per 1 g of substance = Q/mass of substance burnt
The amount of heat released per 1 mole of substance = (Q/mass of substance burnt) x
molar mass of substance

DATA AND RESULTS (Make a Data Table)

CONCLUSION:

QUESTIONS / PROBLEMS / ANSWERS:

 Carlos Hilado Memorial State University
Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus

To be a leading GREEN institution of higher learning in the global community by 2030

(Good governance, Research-oriented, Extension-driven, Education for Sustainable Development & Nation-building)

1. Compare the heat of combustion of the 3 alcohols. Do you notice any pattern?

2. Comment on the accuracy of your results for the heat of combustion of the alcohols. Give
suggestions to improve the design of the experiment.

3. Using your results and the following information, explain whether the heat capacity of the
aluminum can be ignored.

Specific heat capacity of water = 4.2 kJ kg-1 K-1