A coffee-cup calorimeter consists of an insulated polystyrene cup containing water and a thermometer, open to the air.
Which assumption is fundamental to using a coffee-cup calorimeter to measure ΔH?
- A
The water boils during the reaction
- B
No heat is absorbed by the water
- C
The reaction occurs at constant volume
- Dcheck_circle
The reaction occurs at constant atmospheric pressure
Explanation
A coffee-cup calorimeter is open to the atmosphere, so q_p = ΔH (constant-pressure calorimetry).