II.

Materials and methods

In order to perform the exercise, the students used a bomb calorimeter. Before,
using the bomb calorimeter, there are many preparations needed.
First the sample was weighed and pelletized. Afterwards it is put in the sample
holder in order to be attached to the bomb cartridge. A special fuse wire is then cut into a
ten-centimeter portion. The fuse was set between the two electrodes. The bomb
cartridge is then tightly sealed. Two liters of water are also put on the calorimeter bucket.
The bucket is then placed inside the adiabatic bomb calorimeter. The bomb
cartridge on the other hand is filled with oxygen until it is just filled. Caution was
observed in over filling the bomb used. Afterwards, the bomb is placed inside the
calorimeter bucket. The electrodes were put in its places and then the calorimeter is set
to let the bomb explode. Before the firing proper, the initial temperature of the bucket is
measured. As a precaution, the students made sure to keep away from the calorimeter
at an acceptable distance.
After firing, the change in the temperature of the bucket is recorded and it was
used for the calculations of the enthalpy of combustion.
The bomb calorimeter was fired three times during the entire experiment. The
first time is for standardization. The procedure is analogous to the one stated above only
with the difference that for standardization, the value needed to be obtained is the
calorimeter constant. The other two trials are for the determination of the enthalpy of
combustion of the two samples namely: acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) and salicylic acid.