Calibration of a Coffee Cup Calorimeter

A simple heater is constructed to calibrate a calorimeter made from styrofoam coffee cups. Chart software configures the e-corder to apply a voltage pulse across a waterproof resistor, which is in contact with solution inside the calorimeter. Knowing the period and the voltage of the pulse, the amount of energy released by the heater can be calculated. The proportion of heat absorbed by the calorimeter is used to determine a calorimeter constant that converts observed temperature rises to the amount of energy released by a reaction.

Keywords: Calorimetry. Heat Exchange.