What is a Calorimeter?
As one of the devices used in the science of calorimetry, the calorimeter plays an important role in measuring heat capacity in a number of secure environments, as well as the physical changes that occur with the incidence of specific chemical reactions. Here is some information about the general function of the calorimeter and how measuring calories related to the process of identifying heat capacity. Calorimeter is a term that is derived from the Latin word calor, which literally translates to “heat.” While most people understand the concept of calories as they relate to weight gain or loss, fewer individuals are aware that calorie content is determined by the ability of the substance to generate heat or energy as a result of the consumption. What the calorimeter actually does is identify the rate and scale of the production of that heat or energy and translates into numerical designations that can be used to adequately measure the production and the assimilation of heat and energy.
A calorimeter tests the number of calories in any food. It is set up with a liter of water, under which you would burn something like a potato chip, and once it was set on fire, you would measure how hot the water gets in Celcius. Then, through a series of calculations, you could figure out how many calories there are in something. An important thing to take note of is that a Calorie is actually a kilocalorie, and thus a thousand times greater than a calorie. Lovely how the manufacturers like to trick us, isn’t it?
