Adaptation of the Bomb Calorimeter


Class: BE210
Group: W1
Members:       FACILITATOR………………………..………..Neha Amin

                        TIME & TASK KEEPER………………….……Emily Clark
 
                         SCRIBE…………………………….…………..Cheryl Phua

                         PRESENTER…………………….…………….Shishir Dube

Date: May, 2001

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Abstract:
Bomb Calorimetry is a useful process for determining the heat of combustion of elements.  The optimal use of a bomb calorimeter involves the digital reading of the temperature change rather than a manual recording.  The three devices (mercury thermometer, NTC thermistor, and LM135 temperature sensor “chip”) yielded temperature versus time data, which was used to calculate the energy equivalent factor of the calorimeter (W).  Nine trials were performed at various initial temperatures to determine if a given device was universally better or if one was more accurate at room temperature (24.5 ºC) while the other is better at higher or lower temps.  The mean W values obtained for the mercury thermometer, chip, and thermistor were: 2505.12±1.90%, 2464.31±1.80%, and 2729.02±11.80%, respectively.  Based on the precision of the values between trials, accuracy of the instruments, ease of use and cost, the chip is the best device at the range of temperatures tested in the experiment (20 to 29 ºC).