American University of Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

CHEM 315 Laboratory Report
Spring semester - 2017

Experiment 4: Calorimetry: Enthalpies of Combustion

Name: Abdulrahman Almallah
Name of Instructor: Dr. Irshad

Introduction:

Calorimetry is an important field of analytical chemistry which deals accurately measuring

heats of reaction and finds application in fields ranging from nutritional analysis
to explosive yield tests. In this experiment we will use oxygen bomb
calorimeters, which are the standard instruments for measuring calorific values of
solid and liquid combustible samples. The calorific value (heat of combustion) of a sample may
be broadly defined as the number of heat units liberated by a unit mass of a sample when burned
with oxygen in an enclosure of constant volume. In this reaction the sample and the oxygen are
initially at the same temperature and the products of combustion are cooled to within a few
degrees of the initial temperature; also the water vapor formed by the combustion is condensed
to the liquid state. The term calorific value (or heat of combustion) as measured in a bomb
calorimeter denotes the heat liberated by the combustion of all carbon and hydrogen with oxygen
to form carbon dioxide and water, including the heat liberated by the oxidation of other elements
such as sulfur which may be present in the sample.
 Materials:
1- Bomb calorimeter
2- Beckman thermometer.
3- Fuel
4- 2 L of water
Procedure:
1. Weigh a small amount of the fuel (about 1 gram).
2. Fix the ignition wire and close the bomb.
3. Charge the bomb with oxygen to a pressure of about 30 bars.
4. Insert the bomb in the calorimeter and pour about 2 liters of water.
5. Insert the Beckman thermometer and start the stirrer. Record the temperature of the water.
6. Ignite the fuel and record the temperature every 30 second up to ten minutes.
Data and calculations:
Time (min) 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5

Temperature(℃) 27 28 29 31 33 34 34.2 34.5 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35

Time (min) 10 10.5 11 11.5 12 12.5 13

Temperature 35 35 35 35 35 35 35
(℃)

36
35
34
33
Temperature (℃)

32
31
30
29
28
27
26
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Time (min)
Heat liberated from fuel = Heat gained by water and calorimeter
mf x C.V=(mw+mc)(T2-T1)(Cp)
Initial temperature of water at time 0 = 26℃
mass of fuel initially=2.45g
mass of unburned fuel=0.05g
mass of burned fuel=2.45-0.05=2.4g
mass of water=density x volume = 1000g/L x 2L = 2000g
2.4 x C.V= (2000+ 856)(35-26) 4.184
C.V=44810.64 j/g =45 Mj/Kg
Conclusions:
The experiment was done successfully and most of the fuel burned.
The graph has been drawn between the temperature and time, the temperature increased
gradually.
After 2 min the temperature increased significantly to reaches 31℃.
After 4.5 min the temperature reaches 35 ℃ and it keeps a constant behavior to minutes 13.
The calorific value of diesel was calculated (C.V= 45 Mj/Kg) and it is the same to that expected
value (C.V= 45 Mj/kg)
References: http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/facts-and-figures/heat-values-of-
various-fuels.aspx