how to find calorimeter constant

Question

volume of cold water- 97.5 mL

temp of cold water- 7 degrees Celsius

temp of hot water- 77 degrees Celsius

volume of hot water- 98.5 mL

final temp after mixing- 41 degrees Celsius

mass of cold water- 97.5 g

mass of hot water- 98.5 g

calorimeter constant- (?) j/degrees Celsius

Answer 1

The calorimeter constant is the amount of heat absorbed by the calorimeter per each degree change in temperature and usually has the units of J/ºC.

From the data provided, we can calculate the heat transferred, and also the change in temperature which is sufficient to calculate the calorimeter constant.

Another way to look at this is...

heat lost by hot water = heat gained by cold water + heat gained by calorimeter

q = (98.5 g)(4.184 J/g/ºC)(77 - 41 degrees ) = 14,836 J of heat lost by hot water

q = (97.5 g)(4.184 J/g/ºC)( 41 - 7 degrees) = 13,870 J of heat gained by the cold water

14,836 J = 13,870 J + heat gained by calorimeter

Heat gained by calorimeter = 14,836 J - 13,870 J = 966 J

Calorimeter constant = 966 J/34ºC = 28.4 J/ºC