Chemistry

[jessicavize]

How do you calculate kilojoules of food by doing food calorimetry?

[1729]

How do you calculate kilojoules of food by doing food calorimetry?

So basically, you set up an appartus kinda like this:

Burning the piece of food is obviosuly a combustion reaction, which is highly exothermic, so it realeases a lot of heat. Well that'll increase the heat of the water above and it can be recorded with a thermomemter. Then, you'll then have to utilize the heat law equation Q = m * c * T, where m is mass, c is specific heat, T is change in temperature, and Q is heat energy in joules so you'll have the mass of water, the specific heat(which is a literature value of 4.186), and then change in temperature(So your final temp - inital temp) Once you plug that all in, it should give you Q in joules, which is energy added to water. That energy is obviously the energy that the food released, as such, it is the energy of the food.