Calorimetry

Okay, you are probably thinking about: Where de heck is all those famous experiments used in chemistry?

Well, in thermochemistry we have an experimental method used to measure energy changes. It is called Calorimetry.

Before we start calorimetry, lets recall two very important laws related to this issue: 

1. Energy is never created or destroyed, only transformed.
2. Heat flow from hotter to cooler substances until they reach the same temperature.

Now that you know these two laws, you are now able to understand what Calorimetry really is.

Calorimetry is the method that use calorimeter which is a device that is used to measure the amount of heat that was released or absorbed through a chemical reaction that occurred within  it.

IDEALLY CALORIMETER IS AN ISOLATED SYSTEM! Yes, do not forget that! Because a isolated system means that the environment around the calorimetry DOES NOT affect the final result.

To use calorimeter, it is very important to have some assumption which are:

• All energy gained or lost by the calorimeter was gained or lost by the system.
• The calorimeter is completely isolated.
• The liquid in the calorimeter has the same physical proprieties as water.
• The thermal energy gained or lost by the other devices in the calorimeter, such as the container, thermometer, and lid, are too small to be not be ignored. 

There are three types of calorimeters. The poorest one is the nested Styrofoam cups. It is not very good becuse it allows a lot of heat loss to the surroundings. 

It is possible to find more currate results with aluminium calorimeters.

The best type is called the bomb calorimeter.

They all work based on the same principles.