The enthalpy of combustion of a substance is the energy released when one mole of the substance is completely burned in oxygen.
The aim of this experiment is to determine the enthalpy of combustion of ethanol i.e. the enthalpy change for the reaction:
A measured mass of ethanol is burned in a spirit burner and the heat released is transferred to a copper can containing a known volume of water. From the resulting temperature rise, the enthalpy of combustion of ethanol can be calculated.
Enthalpy of combustion – Pupil
