Question

If 0.250 g of fuel increases the temperature of a calorimeter by 20 °C, and the calorimeter is calibrated at 7.28 kJ/°C, calculate the heat of combustion of fuel per gram. SHOW ALL YOUR WORK

Answer 1

Heat lost by the burning fuel =- heat gained by the calorimeter

$q=-C \Delta T$

where C is the heat capacity of calorimeter

$q=-7.28 \times 20 =-145.6 \;KJ$

Therefore heat of combustion

$=\frac{-145.6}{0.250} =-582.4 \;KJ/g$

The heat required for combustion is -582.4 KJ/g