Constant-Volume Calorimetry Video Lessons

Concept: Heat of Combustion

# Problem: A calorimeter has 1 kg of water (heat capacity of H2O = 4.184 J/g°C) and its heat capacity is 0.10 kJ/°C when it’s empty. The calorimeter increases 5.0°C when 3.9 g of oil shale is burned. The amount of heat released per gram of oil shale is:A. 3.25 kJ/g B. 5.5 kJ/g C. 6.8 kJ/g D. 7.0 kJ/g E. 3.33 kJ/g

###### FREE Expert Solution

We’re being asked to determine the amount of heat released by shale.

We will use the heat released by the copper piece to calculate its initial temperature. Recall that heat can be calculated using the following equation:

$\overline{){\mathbf{q}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{mc}}{\mathbf{∆}}{\mathbf{T}}}$

q = heat, J

+qabsorbs heat
–qloses heat

m = mass (g)
c = specific heat capacity = J/(g·°C)
ΔT = Tf – Ti = (°C)

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###### Problem Details

A calorimeter has 1 kg of water (heat capacity of H2O = 4.184 J/g°C) and its heat capacity is 0.10 kJ/°C when it’s empty. The calorimeter increases 5.0°C when 3.9 g of oil shale is burned. The amount of heat released per gram of oil shale is:

A. 3.25 kJ/g

B. 5.5 kJ/g

C. 6.8 kJ/g

D. 7.0 kJ/g

E. 3.33 kJ/g