The Isothermal Heat Conduction Calorimeter: A Versatile Instrument for Studying Processes in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

Thomas Hofelich
Department of Analytical Sciences, Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48667
Lars Wadsö
Division of Building Materials, University of Lund, Lund S-221 00, Sweden
Allan L. Smith , Hamid Shirazi and S. Rose Mulligan
Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104
J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (8), p 1080
DOI: 10.1021/ed078p1080
Publication Date (Web): August 1, 2001

Abstract

An approach to teaching calorimetry is offered through practical, versatile undergraduate experiments using an isothermal heat conduction calorimeter, which measures a variety of heat changes--enthalpies of phase changes, hydration, dissolution, adsorption and desorption, and reaction--as well as the metabolic rate of living organisms. Isothermal heat-conduction calorimetry is contrasted with adiabatic calorimetry. The general design and calibration of an instrument is discussed and five student experiments are described: heat capacity of solids, enthalpy of acid-base reaction, enthalpy of vaporization, hydration of cement, and metabolic rates of insects.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Feature):

Topics in Chemical Instrumentation

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Calorimetry / Thermochemistry
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  • Received: August 03, 2009

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