School and Work

A bomb calorimeter, or constant volume calorimeter, is a device often used to determine the heat of combustion of fuels and the energy content of foods.

Since the "bomb" itself can absorb energy, a separate experiment is needed to determine the heat capacity of the calorimeter. This is known as calibrating the calorimeter.

In the laboratory a student burns a 0.504-g sample of quinizarin (C14H8O4) in a bomb calorimeter containing 1020 g of water. The temperature increases from 24.50 °C to 27.00 °C.

The Molar Heat of Combustion is -6057 kJ per mole of quinizarin.

C14H8O4(s) + 14 O2(g) 14 CO2(g) + 4 H2O(l) + Energy

Calculate the heat capacity of the calorimeter.

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