Practice question · Multiple choice
Why does a coffee-cup calorimeter measure while a bomb calorimeter measures ?
Hints
- Ask which variable is held fixed in each apparatus.
- Enthalpy equals the heat exchanged at constant pressure; internal energy at constant volume.
Show the answer
D. The coffee cup is open at constant pressure; the bomb is sealed at constant volume
Why
At constant pressure ; at constant volume no expansion work is possible, so . The apparatus decides which quantity you measure, which is why combustion data often needs converting between the two.
Practise Enthalpy and Thermochemistry
The app has 6 more questions on this lesson, and keeps your place in the course. Chemistry I is free to start.
More questions on Enthalpy and Thermochemistry
- For a reaction, the sum of the standard formation enthalpies of the products is -820 kJ/mol and that of the…
- Enthalpy is an extensive state function, rather than an intensive property or a path-dependent quantity. What…
- Match each thermochemical quantity to its definition.
- An element in its standard state is assigned a formation enthalpy of exactly zero.
- Arrange the steps of a Hess-cycle calculation in the order you would carry them out.