Question

What is the purpose of the coffee cup in a coffee cup calorimetry experiment?

a. The StyrofoamTM of the coffee cup acts as a catalyst for heat transfer.
b. The soft coffee cup is safer to work with than a glass beaker.
c. The coffee cup insulates the experiment, minimizing heat loss to the environment.
d. The coffee cup adds heat to the experiment.

Answer 1

The coffee cup in a coffee cup calorimetry experiment is used to insulate the system and minimize heat loss to the environment, allowing for more accurate measurement of heat transfer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the coffee cup in a coffee cup calorimetry experiment is to act as an insulator. The coffee cup, typically made of Styrofoam, minimizes heat loss to the environment, ensuring that the experiment, which is designed to measure heat transfer during chemical reactions, remains isolated. Hence, the correct answer to the question is:

c. The coffee cup insulates the experiment, minimizing heat loss to the environment.

A coffee cup calorimeter is a simplified version of a constant-pressure calorimeter that uses nested Styrofoam cups and an insulated stopper with holes for a thermometer and a stirrer. By design, this setup thermally isolates the system (the solution being studied) from its surroundings.