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Heat Capacity and Calorimetry

Heat capacity and calorimetry are essential for understanding energy transfer in chemical reactions and physical processes.

Key Concepts​

  • Heat Capacity (C): Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1°C
    • q = C × ΔT
  • Specific Heat (c): Heat capacity per gram of a substance
    • q = m × c × ΔT
  • Calorimetry: Experimental technique to measure heat changes in chemical reactions

Types of Calorimeters​

  • Constant Pressure Calorimeter: Measures enthalpy changes at atmospheric pressure
  • Bomb Calorimeter: Measures internal energy changes at constant volume

Using Calorimetry​

  • For a reaction in a calorimeter:
    q_reaction = −q_solution
  • Allows calculation of ΔH for reactions

Importance​

  • Determines reaction energetics and heat changes
  • Essential for thermodynamics studies
  • Guides energy-efficient chemical processes and safety measures

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