INTRODUCTION

We are all worried about our health and attempt to monitor the nutritional worth of the foods we consume. People checking the calories in a snack and keeping track of their daily calorie consumption is very common nowadays. But have you ever wondered how this information is gathered? Let's look at how these calories are calculated in more detail.

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WHAT IS A CALORIE?

• The quantity of energy or heat necessary to increase the temperature of one gramme of water by one degree Celcius is specified as a calorie.

• Although the calorie is an ancient measure, it is nevertheless widely used today.

• A kilocalorie is a unit of measurement for the quantity of energy in food.

• The definition of calorimetry states that it is a branch of science concerned with determining a body's state in terms of thermal features in order to investigate its physical and chemical changes.

• Physical changes, such as melting and evaporation, as well as chemical changes, such as burning and acid-base neutralization, are possible.

PRINCIPLE OF CALORIMETRY

The law of conservation of energy is the calorimeter's primary concept. One body's heat loss is balanced by the heat acquired by another. The principle of calorimetry is widely used in thermochemistry to calculate enthalpy, stability, and heat capacity, among other things.

The formula of calorimetry is as follows - 

𝑄𝑠𝑢𝑏 =𝑚×𝐶×Δ𝑇

Where 𝑄𝑠𝑢𝑏 = the heat energy of a body 

m= mass of the body 

C= specific heat 

And Δ𝑇 is the temperature difference 

USES OF CALORIMETRY

• The energy of matter has a significant impact on its natural occurrence, reactivity, and other properties.
• If we can figure out how they are related, we can use the energy measurements.
• Some uses of calorimetrycan be to forecast natural occurrence, reactivity, and physical attributes.
• Understanding a substance's thermodynamic quantities will always lead to answers about its structure and other properties.

TYPES OF CALORIMETERS

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A calorimeter is a device that measures heat and is used in calorimetry. There are different types of calorimeters that are used; some of them are: 

• Adiabatic calorimeters
• Constant pressure calorimeter
• Reaction calorimeters
• Differential scanning calorimeter
• Bomb calorimeters

SUMMARY

• Calorimetry is a branch of science concerned with determining a body's state in terms of thermal features. 
• The law of conservation of energy is the calorimeter's primary concept.
• The formula of calorimetry is 𝑄𝑠𝑢𝑏 =𝑚×𝐶×Δ𝑇

FAQs

Q. What is the main requirement for a calorimeter?

A metallic vessel ( a good conductor of electricity ) is the main requirement of a calorimeter. 

Q. Why is water used in calorimetry?

Water is used in calorimetry because it has a high specific heat capacity. 

Q. What is a limitation of the calorimetry method?

Losing heat to the environment and uneven heating is the limitation of the calorimetry. 

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REFERENCE

1. Calorimetry: https://www.ck12.org/chemistry/calorimetry/lesson/Calorimetry-CHEM/?referrer=concept_details. Accessed 11th April 2022.
2. Calorimetry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorimetry Accessed 11th April 2022.