CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

CHEM181: CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS - LABORATORY

First Semester, AY 2021-2022

Name Course & Year

Section Date

Experiment No. 3
HEAT OF COMBUSTION
Objective: Compare the heats of combustion of alcohols of different number of molecular
weights using calorimetry.

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

Materials: 300 mL distilled water

3 samples of unknown pure alcohol as fuel
Theory:
The combustion of organic compounds like alcohols produces large quantities of energy.
Ethanol is a commonly used fuel in motor cars and its usage is increasing because it is a form
of renewable energy. But what makes a good fuel? A good fuel is any substance which gives
out large amounts of energy when it is burnt. In most cases, fuels are burnt in oxygen (air),
i.e., they are oxidized. Is there any relationship between the energy released by one alcohol
and another alcohol? This experiment aims to investigate the relationship between the
number of carbon atoms in an alcohol chain and its standard enthalpy change of combustion.
The heat of combustion (standard enthalpy change of combustion) is the enthalpy change
when one mole of the compound undergoes complete combustion in excess oxygen under
standard conditions. It is given the symbol ΔH˚comb and standard conditions simply refer to
room conditions with a temperature of 298K and a pressure of 1 atm. The combustion of
alcohol is an exothermic process. It releases heat to the surrounding resulting to a negative
value.
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

Procedure:

NOTE: Alcohols are organic substances that are flammable and easily catch fire when
exposed to naked flames. It is a fire hazard. Care must be taken to ensure that any
spills are being cleaned up immediately. Safety goggles must be worn while
performing this experiment. A fire extinguisher should also be kept close by in case
of emergencies.

Figure 1. Heat of Combustion set-up

https://www.aplustopper.com/enthalpy-heat-combustion/

1. Measure 100-mL of water and pour it carefully into an aluminum can.

2. Read the initial temperature of the water, Ti . Record.

3. Cover the aluminum can with the cardboard then insert the thermometer through the
hole.

4. Weigh the alcohol lamp containing the alcohol sample used as fuel, mi . Record.
5. Position the alcohol lamp on top of a block of wood to elevate it. Place the clay shield
over it and put the clay triangle on top of the clay shield.
6. Place the aluminum can on top of the clay triangle. See to it that the distance between
the wick of the alcohol lamp and the aluminum can is approximately 1 cm.
7. Light the alcohol lamp and heat the water.
8. During heating, gently stir the water until it boils. When the water boils, read the
temperature of the water. Record.
Note: Do not touch the aluminum can when taking the temperature of water.
9. Remove the aluminum can carefully.
10. Extinguish the flame of the alcohol lamp.

11. Continue stirring the water gently and record the maximum temperature reached, Tf .
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

12. Reweigh the alcohol lamp/burner, m f . Record.

13. Repeat steps 1-12 for the other 2 unknown alcohol samples.
14. Calculate the standard enthalpy of combustion (ΔH˚comb) per mole of alcohol.
15. Calculate the percentage error

theoretical value − experimental value

Percentage Error =  100
theoretical value

16. Show complete solutions to all calculations.

17. Plot a graph relating the standard enthalpy of combustion and the number of carbon
atoms in an alcohol.

Quantitative Data and Formulas:

Distilled water
• volume, mL V = 100 mL

• density of water, g/mL  = 1.0 g/mL

cp
• specific heat capacity, J/gC = 4.18 J/gC

• mass, g mw = V

• change in temperature, C T = Tf − Ti

• enthalpy change during combustion, J Hw = mwcpT

Alcohol

• mass of burnt alcohol, g mA = mi − mf

• molar mass of alcohol, g/mol MM = 12C + H + 16O

( C - number of carbon atoms, H - number of hydrogen atoms, O - number of oxygen atoms)

mA
n=
• number of moles, mol MM
−Hw
Hcomb =
• standard enthalpy of combustion, J/mol n
CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

Calculations: Show complete solutions.

Graph: standard enthalpy of combustion versus number of carbon atoms

STANDARD ENTHALPY OF COMBUSTION

NUMBER OF CARBON ATOMS

CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

Questions:
1. Is a combustion reaction exothermic or endothermic? Explain your answer.

2. Why is combustion important to life?

3. Based on the plotted graph, what relationship can be drawn between the number of carbon
atoms and their standard enthalpies of combustion?

Give 5 types of combustion and define each type.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Give 5 examples of combustion in everyday life and explain.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

A 1.55 gram sample pf pentanol, C5H11OH is burned and produced a temperature

increase of 55 0 C in 200 g of water. Calculate the heat of combustion of pentanol.
 CHEM181: Chemistry for Engineers - Laboratory First Semester, AY 2021-2022

Table: Summary of Data

Molar Number ΔH during ΔH˚comb ΔH˚comb

Substance Before heating After heating Difference mass of moles combustion (standard) (experimental)
% error
g/mol mol J kJ/mol kJ/mol

Mass of burnt
Alcohol A Mass of ethanol + Mass of ethanol +
ethanol
Ethanol alcohol lamp alcohol lamp – 1368
mA = mi − mf
(C2H6O) mi = mf =

Initial
Distilled temperature Final temperature T = Tf − Ti
Water Ti = Tf = T =

Mass of ethanol +
Alcohol B Mass of ethanol + Mass of burnt
alcohol lamp
Propanol alcohol lamp propanol – 2021
mi =
(C3H8O) mf = mA = mi − mf

Initial
Distilled temperature Final temperature T = Tf − Ti
Water Ti = Tf = T =

Mass of ethanol +
Alcohol C Mass of ethanol + Mass of burnt
alcohol lamp
Butanol alcohol lamp butanol – 2670
mi =
(C4H10O) mf = mA = mi − mf

Initial
Distilled temperature
Final temperature T = Tf − Ti
Water Tf = T =
Ti =