EXPERIMENT 2: DETERMINATION OF HEATING VALUE OF A SOLID PURE

SUBSTANCE USING BOMB CALORIMETER

I. Objectives

To determine the heating value of naphthalene

II. Theory
III. Materials and Methods
a. Precautions
o Proper PPE was observed.
o Surgical masks and gloves were used when handling Naphthalene due
to its foul smell and being a permeator respectively.
b. Preparation of sample (Naphthalene)
i. A watch glass was used to prepare an approximate amount of 0.5
grams of Naphthalene and was weighed in the analytical balance.
ii. The Naphthalene sample was pelletized using a pelletizer.
iii. An empty capsule was weighed using an analytical balance.
iv. The pelletized Benzoic acid was put inside the empty capsule and was
weighed again to determine the mass of the pelletized Benzoic acid.

c. Securing of sample in the bomb head

i. The bomb head was set on the support stand.
ii. The capsule with the pelletized Naphthalene was place in the bomb
head.

d. Attaching the Platinum fuse

i. The platinum fuse was weighed and cut at 7cm.
ii. The fuse was fastened between the two electrodes in the bomb
head.
iii. The fuse was bended in a way it made contact with the sample
but not with the capsule.
e. Closing the bomb
i. The bomb head was carefully removed from the support stand
and into the bomb cylinder.
ii. The screw cap of the cylinder was set firmly, and all valves were
closed.
f. Filling the bomb with oxygen
i. The lab assistant was called to aid the filling of the bomb with
oxygen gas.
ii. The hose was secured between the oxygen tank and the bomb.

iii. The oxygen control valve of the bomb was opened first, then the
oxygen tank valve was opened next to fill the bomb with oxygen
gas.
iv. The bomb was fully filled with oxygen gas, then the gauge
pressure was read. After that, both valves were then closed.
g. Filling the calorimeter with water
i. The cold water was prepared beforehand.
ii. The temperature of the cold water and water at ambient temperature
was measured.
iii. Using energy balance, the amount of cold water and water at ambient
temperature to be mixed in order to acquire 3000 ml of water at 25degC
was calculated.
iv. An amount of 144.83 ml of cold water at 11.2C was mixed with 2855.17
ml of water at ambient temperature (25.7 C) for trial 1 was mixed.
Water at 25.7 C and at 3000 ml was acquired.
v. An amount of 102.04 ml of cold water at 10.8 C was mixed with 2897.96
ml of water at ambient temperature (25.5 C) for trial 2 was mixed.
Water at 25.5 C and at 3000 ml was acquired.
vi. The water-filled bucket was placed inside the bomb calorimeter jacket.

h. Pre-firing
i. The oxygen-filled bomb was placed in the middle of the bucket
of water.
ii. The two ignition wires were attached to the terminal sockets of
the bomb head.
iii. The cover of the calorimeter was firmly closed.
iv. The digital thermometer was then lowered inside the bomb
calorimeter. The temperature was read first before the stirrer was
turned on.
v. The temperature was recorded every 30 seconds for 6 minutes.
i. Firing of the Bomb
i. After 6 minutes, the firing button was pressed for about 1-2
seconds on the ignition unit, and the temperature was recorded
every after 30 seconds for 12 minutes.
j. Recovery of the combustion products
i. After about 18 minutes, the stirrer was turned off, the plugs were
all pulled out of their sockets and was placed away from the
calorimeter for safety purposes.
ii. The calorimeter cover was opened, the bomb was lifted from the
water-filled bucket, and was then wiped with a dry towel to
make sure the bomb is all dry.

iii. The bomb was taken outside the laboratory area, and into an
open space/ the mini field of the SoTech Building. The person
doing this was wearing a mask for safety purposes.
iv. The bomb was directed away from the person holding it, and
the gas release valve was slowly opened to release the residual
gas pressure. Observations were noted.
v. The cap was then unscrewed. The bomb head was lifted slowly
from the cylinder and was inspected for incomplete combustion.
The interior of the bomb cylinder was also observed.
vi. The mass of the capsule was weighed after combustion.
vii. The mass of the unburnt fuse was also weighed.
viii. The interior of the bomb and the capsule was then washed with
distilled water and dried with a towel.

IV. Results and Discussions

V. Conclusions
VI. Recommendation
VII. References
VIII. Appendices