Bomb Calorimeter Essay

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Contents Page 1. Aim/Objective p. 2 2. Theory 2.1 Construction of Bomb Calorimeter p. 2 2.2 Calculations p. 3 3. Apparatus p. 4 4. Method p. 5 5. Results 6.1 Table p. 6 6.2 Graph p.7 6.3 Sample calculations p. 8 6. Discussion/Conclusion p. 9 7. Bibliography p.10 1. AIM/ OBJECTIVE In this experiment, bomb calorimetry will be used to determine the heat of combustion (heat that the fuel gives off over a certain amount of time when it’s ignited). Determine the Calorific Value of the fuel used and show how the practically determined value compares to the theoretical calculations and industry standards 2. THEORY A bomb calorimeter is a sealed container capable of holding several atmospheres of gas pressure. It measures the enthalpy of reaction by carrying out the combustion reaction under constant volume conditions. This exothermic reaction increases the temperature inside the bomb, which then transfers the energy to the external water jacket raising the external temperature. It is this rise in the water-jacket temperature which is monitored and then back-calculated to obtain energy release by the combustion reaction. 1. Construction of Bomb Calorimeter A weighed sample of substance is placed in contact with an ignition wire inside the bomb. The bomb is filled to about 20 atm of pressure with O2, sealed, and placed in a known amount of water. An electric current is passed through a wire to ignite the mixture. As the combustion takes place, the heat evolved raises the temperature of the calorimeter and its surrounding water, as measured by a thermometer. In order to prevent heat loss from the calorimeter system, some calorimeters are surrounded by a second water bath, whose temperature is continuously adjusted

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