TP Chemistry II

1st Year LMD (ST)

TP N°01 : Specific Heat

MANIPULATION N°01
Thermodynamics
Calorific Capacity & Specific Heat
__________________________________________________________________________________

1- Introduction :
Thermodynamics is the science of energy exchange. It is used as much in physics as in chemistry
and biology, relying in particular on mathematical tools. It enables us to understand and predict
variations in energy between different interacting systems, based on fundamental principles.
Thermodynamics has many applications. These include thermal machines (car engines, refrigerators,
heat pumps).

2- Objective of the work :

1- Determine the calorific capacity of the calorimeter.

2- Determining the specific heat of a liquid (ethanol).
3- Determining the specific heat of a metal.
3- Theoretical Part : :

3-1 . Thermodynamic System : This is the name given to the part of space we are studying. It is

separated from the outside by an imaginary wall, through which

exchanges take place between the system and the outside

environment. The system as a whole and the outside environment

constitute the universe.

3-2 . Description of the system :

a) State Variables (parameters) : The state of a system is described by knowledge of a small number
of macroscopic quantities called state parameters ( Density (ρ), Energy (E), Enthalpy (H), Internal
energy (U), Mass (m), Pressure (p), Entropy (S), Temperature (T), Volume (V) ).

b) Intensive and extensive parameters :

• An extensive parameter is proportional to the quantity of matter (Example: Volume, Mass, Nbr
mole, Electric charge).
• An intensive parameter is defined at each point of a system and is independent of the quantity
of matter (Example: Temperature, Pressure).

c) Phase of a system: A system whose aspect is the same at all points. There are three phases:
liquid (L), gas (G) and solid (S).

d) Possible transformations between the system and the external environment:

• Different types of transfer : Energy transfer in the form of heat (Q) or mechanical work (W),
expressed in joules (J) and transfer of matter.
1
Page

TP 01 : Specific Heat Dr. MAKHLOUFI EL HANI 2023/2024

 • Different types of system: Depending on the nature of the frontier between the system and the
external environment, a distinction is made between different systems:

Nature of transformation
System Example
Energy Matter
closed system Yes No lamp
isolated system No No thermos
open system Yes Yes living cell

3-3 . Adiabatic transformation :

The word adiabatic comes from the Greek (adiabatos: which cannot be passed through). A
transformation is said to be adiabatic if it takes place without any heat transfer between the system
and the outside environment (δQ=0), bearing in mind that according to the first principle of
thermodynamics :
dU=δQ+δW...................................(1)

dU : represents the change in internal energy.

δQ : the elementary heat transfer over the transformation.
δW : the elementary work of the forces acting on the system during the transformation.

3-4 . Calorific capacity of a calorimeter (C) :

The study instrument used is a calorimeter. Calorimetric measurements are based on heat
exchanges between sub-systems in the calorimeter; we will also take into account heat exchanges
between what is contained in the calorimeter and the calorimeter (this is the role of m); but we will
neglect parasitic exchanges between the calorimeter and the outside environment .
We therefore consider the assembly {calorimeter + its contents} to be isolated.
We reduce the calorimeter and its accessories to a (thermal) equivalent of a certain mass m of water.
The calorific capacity of the calorimeter (C) is therefore written as :

C = m.ce
With : m : the water value of the calorimeter. C : expressed in J.K-1; m en kg.
ce : the specific or mass heat of liquid water: ce = 4180 J.kg-1.K-1.

3-5 . Quantity of Heat :

• Heat is a transfer of energy due to a difference in temperature between two objects. The heat
Q required to change the temperature of a mass m by ΔT.
• The specific or mass heat of a object « c » (J.kg-1.K-1) or ((Cal. kg-1.K-1) is the quantity of heat
that must be given to (or taken from) the unit mass of this object for its temperature to change
by 1°C.
Q= m.c.ΔT = C.ΔT.............................(2) (ΔT=Tf-Ti)

C : calorific capacity of the object (J/K) ou (cal/K).

m : object mass.
c : specific heat.
3-6 . The adiabatic calorimeter:

The calorimeter is like a bottle of "Thermos". The calorimeter is an

isolated thermodynamic system that exchanges no energy with the
outside environment (neither work nor heat). Its wall is undeformable and
adiabatic. So W=0 and Q=0.
However, heat is transferred between the various parts of the
calorimeter: components under study, accessories, wall.... As there is no
heat exchange with the outside, this implies that the sum of heat
exchanged Qi within the calorimeter is zero: ∑ Qi = 0.
2
Page

TP 01 : Specific Heat Dr. MAKHLOUFI EL HANI 2023/2024

 Example of Comprehension :

Determining the equilibrium temperature of a mixture of components introduced at different

temperatures.
Consider a calorimetric system consisting of i elements defined by their mass mi, their calorific
capacity Ci and their initial temperature before mixing Ti. The heat required by each element to
reach equilibrium temperature Te, if there is no change of state or chemical reaction, is given by the
equation :
Q= m .c. ΔT = C . ΔT
Let's apply the relation of calorimetry ∑ Qi = 0.

3-7 Heat in water:

Calorimetric measurements are based on heat exchanges between sub-systems in the calorimeter,
so we also need to take into account heat exchanges between the contents of the calorimeter and
the calorimeter itself.
This is the role of « μ «, known as the water value of the calorimeter. In terms of heat exchange,
the calorimeter and its accessories are considered to be equivalent to a mass of water « μ «
The calorific capacity of the calorimeter can therefore be written as: Ccal = μ × ce
Qcal = Ccal. ΔT = μ . ce . ΔT.

Ccal : the calorific capacity of the calorimeter ( J.K-1).

ce : the specific or mass heat of liquid water, equal to 4180 J. K-1.Kg-1.
μ : the water equivalent mass of the calorimeter in kilograms (kg).

So, the quantity of heat (calorimeter system + mwater):

Q = Qeau + Qcal = m . c . ΔT + μ. ce . ΔT = (m + μ) . ce . ΔT.

4- Experimental part:

1- Determining the calorific capacity of the calorimeter (C) :

a. Introduce a mass m1=50 g of distilled water at room temperature into the calorimeter. Note
the equilibrium temperature T1 (Water + Calorimeter).

b. Add m2=50 g of warm water at temperature T2 (25°C < T2< 40°C). Note T2

c. Record the new temperature (Tf = Teq) (minimum temperature reached in the calorimeter)
(Water at Temperature T1 + Calorimeter + Water at Temperature T2).

d. Determine (C) the Calorific Capacity of a Calorimeter knowing that :

• the quantity of heat Q2 ceded by the hot water is Q2 = m2 ceau (Tf – T2).
• the quantity of heat Qcal received by the calorimeter + Q1 received by the cold water.

Qcal + Q1 = μ cal (Tf – T1) + m1 ceau (Tf – T1) = ( μ + m1) ceau (Tf – T1).

• And the isolated system can be written as: (ΣQi =0) ⟹ Q1 + Qcal + Q2 = 0

e. Determination of μ (the water equivalent mass of the calorimeter).

Ccal the calorific capacity of the calorimeter in Joule per Kelvin ( J.K-1).
ce : the specific or mass heat of liquid water, equal to 4180 J. K-1.Kg-1.
μ : the water equivalent mass of the calorimeter in kilograms (kg).
3
Page

TP 01 : Specific Heat Dr. MAKHLOUFI EL HANI 2023/2024

2- Determination of the specific heat of ethanol (cethanol) :

a. Cool the calorimeter, the calorific capacity of which is known, and introduce a volume V1=50mL
of ethanol. Wait for thermal equilibrium and note the temperature (T1), which is the initial
temperature of the ethanol.
b. Heat a mass m2= 50 g of distilled water in a beaker, then measure its temperature (T2) (Note:
65 °C < T2 < 70 °C).
c. Pour the hot water into the calorimeter (this step must be carried out quickly to avoid cooling
the water).
d. Stir and note the final temperature of the mixture at thermal equilibrium (Tf = Teq).
e. Calculate the heat of mass of the ethanol (cethanol) given that :
• The quantity of heat QEtOH received by the ethanol, QCal received by the calorimeter.
• The quantity of heat QWater ceded by the hot water.
• Applying the principle of heat conservation in an adiabatic system: (ΣQi =0)

f. Compare the experimental value of the mass heat of ethanol with the theoretical value.

 ethanol : Volumic mass of ethanol:  =0,79 g.cm-3

Cethanol : the heat mass of the ethanol c = 2438 J/Kg.K.
ce : the mass heat of the water: ce = 4180 J/kg.K.

3- Determining the heat mass of a metal (ccopper) :

a. Cool the calorimeter, the calorific capacity of which is known, and introduce a mass m1=50g of
distilled water at room temperature. Note the temperature (T1), this will be the initial
temperature of the water and the calorimeter.
b. Weigh a m2 ≈ 20 g piece of copper, note m2.
c. Heat the metal by placing it in a boiling water bath (≈ 80°C).
d. After about 2 minutes in the bath of boiling water, note the temperature of this water (T2),
this will be the initial temperature of the copper.
e. Quickly immerse the piece of copper in the water in the calorimeter.
f. Shake the calorimeter carefully and record the final temperature (Tf = Teq) of the mixture at
thermal equilibrium.
g. the heat mass of the metal (ccopper) given that :
• The quantity of heat Qwater received by the water, QCal received by the calorimeter.
• The quantity of heat Qcopper ceded by the metal.
• Applying the principle of heat conservation in an adiabatic system: (ΣQi =0)

h. Compare the experimental value of the heat mass of the copper with the theoretical value.

ccuivre : the specific heat or heat mass of copper c = 385 J/Kg.K.

ce : the specific heat or heat mass of the water ce = 4180 J/Kg.
4
Page

TP 01 : Specific Heat Dr. MAKHLOUFI EL HANI 2023/2024