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Chemistry Lab Combustion PDF

This document summarizes an experiment to determine the heat of combustion of candle wax. The experiment involved measuring the mass and temperature change of a candle and surrounding water during combustion. Calculations were shown to find the heat released per gram of wax and per mole of wax. Sources of error in the experiment included incomplete combustion of the wax, inaccurate thermometer readings, wax blowing off during extinguishing, and heat loss to the container rather than just the water.

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Benjamin
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20 views

Chemistry Lab Combustion PDF

This document summarizes an experiment to determine the heat of combustion of candle wax. The experiment involved measuring the mass and temperature change of a candle and surrounding water during combustion. Calculations were shown to find the heat released per gram of wax and per mole of wax. Sources of error in the experiment included incomplete combustion of the wax, inaccurate thermometer readings, wax blowing off during extinguishing, and heat loss to the container rather than just the water.

Uploaded by

Benjamin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Klassen !

Benjamin Klassen

Mr. Seguin

SCH 4U1

14/04/18

Enthalpy Lab

Purpose
Refer to lab handout entitled, “Determining the Heat of Combusion” (Seguin, n.d.).

Materials
Refer to lab handout entitled, “Determining the Heat of Combusion” (Seguin, n.d.).

Procedure
Refer to lab handout entitled, “Determining the Heat of Combusion” (Seguin, n.d.).

Data
Table 1: Data collected from trial 1 and trial 2
Initial candle Final candle Initial water Final water △ in water △ in candle
mass mass temperature temperature temperature mass

Trial 1 35.63 g 35.29 g 22.00 ºC 36.50 ºC 14.50 ºC 0.340 g

Trial 2 35.29 g 34.95 g 23.00 ºC 37.00 ºC 14.00 ºC 0.340 g

Questions
Determine the amount of heat absorbed by water for each trial
Trial 1
Q = mc △t
Q = 100(4.18)(14.5)
Q = 6061 J

Trial 2
Q = mc △t
Q = 100(4.18)(14)
Q = 5852 J

Calculate the amount of heat released per gram of candle wax


Trial 1
△H = -Q
Klassen !2

△H = -6061
△H/g is desired
= -6061/0.34
= 17826.47059 J/g
∴ The heat released per gram of wax was 17800 J/g

Trial 2
△H = -Q
△H = -5852
△H/g is desired
= -5852/0.34
= 17211.76471
∴ The heat released per gram of wax 17200 J/g

Average between trials


= (1782647059 + 17211.76471)/2
= 17519.11765
∴ The average heat released per gram of wax was 17500 J/g

If the formula for wax is C25H52, how much heat is produced per mol?
M = 25(12.011) + 52(1.01)
M = 352.795 g/mol

J/mol = (J/g)(g/mol)
= (17519.11765)(352.795)
= 6180657.111 J/mol
∴ The amount of heat produced per mole of wax is 6180000 J/mol

Sources of error

One major source of error is the assumption that the candle experiences complete

combustion. Since this is not the case, some of the mass lost from the candle was not transferred

to heat energy, but rather produced as soot. This would dramatically alter the accuracy of the

calculations, as the heat produced per gram would be skewed. Another source of error occurred

with the thermometers. As they were not digital, it was very hard to accurately estimate the exact

temperature, resulting in estimation and incorrect measurements. Another source of error


Klassen !3

occurred when blowing out the candle. This is because blowing the candle may have pushed wax

off of the candle, resulting in incorrect measurements when weighing the candle. Finally, another

error occurred through heat transfer. The candle didn’t heat up the water directly, but rather

heated up a can with water inside. After the experiment, the can felt warm, revealing that it did

not transfer all of the candle’s heat energy to the water.


Klassen !4

References

Seguin, J. (n.d.). Determining the Heat of Combustion. Guelph, ON: Our Lady of Lourdes

Catholic High School.

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