How Do You Make A Coffee-Cup Calorimeter?
The Latin word “calor,” meaning heat, is the root of “calorie” and “calorimeter.” A calorie is the amount of heat necessary to raise 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Centigrade (about 4.2 kJ). A calorimeter is a device used to measure the heat energy released or absorbed in a chemical reaction. A coffee-cup calorimeter is a type of reaction calorimeter that uses a closed, insulated container for making heat measurements. Coffee cups, especially those made of Styrofoam, are effective calorimeters because they hold in the heat of the reaction. Step 1 Make the cardboard lid. Cut or separate a piece of cardboard large enough to completely cover the mouth of the Styrofoam cup. The lid should be flat and make a good seal when place on top of the cup. Step 2 Insert the thermometer. Poke a hole in the center of the cardboard lid large enough to fit the laboratory thermometer. The fit should be snug, though, so no heat will escape through the hole. Insert the thermometer far enough through the l
