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1.
ABSTRACT
Boy Calorimeter experiment is done in order to determine the calorific value of the
sample that we used. As for this experiment, we are using Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) as
our sample. The apparatus is set according to the start-up procedure and the time taken for one
complete revolution of gas meter is recorded. The temperature of inlet water, outlet water and
gas temperature are recorded as one revolution of gas meter is completed. The amount of water
produced from the calorimeter coil assembly is also recorded. Then the experiment is repeated
at least 3 times in order to get an average data. The data are then used to calculate the calorific
value of the LPG by using formula provided. The average calorific value of LPG from this
experiment is 225015.83 Mj/m3.
2. INTRODUCTION
The calorimeter is an instrument used for calorimetry, or a device used to calculate the
heat of chemical reactions or physical changes, as well as the heat capacity. Differential
calorimeter scanning, isothermal micro calorimeters, titration calorimeters and accelerated
speed calorimeters are among the most common types. A basic calorimeter consists of a
thermometer, which is connected to a metal container full of water suspended above a
combustion chamber. It is used to help us on study of thermodynamics, chemistry and
biochemistry.
3. AIMS
1. To obtain and calculate the calorific value of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) using Boy’s
Calorimeter.
4. THEORY
Calorimeter is a device that designed to measure heat of reaction or physical changes
and heat capacity. Its working principle is it generate heat by combustion to increase the water
temperature. The effect of the temperature changes is then used to calculate the enthalpy
changes of the sample which lead to the generation of:
𝒒 = 𝑪𝒗(𝑻𝒇 − 𝑻𝒊)
where:
𝒒 = 𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡
𝑪𝒗 = 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑻𝒇 = 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝑻𝒊 = 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
Calorific value is a sum of energy released in a complete combustion condition at standard

operating condition. The equation is being for Boys Calorimeter experiment to calculate the
calorific value of the sample.
𝑪𝑽 = 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪 × 𝑫
where:
𝑨 = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑩 = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝐿
𝑪 = 4.187 (𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑠)
𝑫 = 𝐺𝑎𝑠 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
5. APPARATUS
Figure 1: Calorimeter
Figure 2: Gas supply

Figure 3: Gas supply valve
Figure 4: Gas meter
Figure 5: Barometer
Figure 6: Stopwatch
Figure 7: Measuring cylinder
Figure 8: Lighter
6. METHODOLOGY/PROCEDURE
Start-up procedure:
1. Atmospheric pressure is recorded by using barometer.
2. The calorimeter coil assembly is lifted from the calorimeter housing and placed in the
alkaline bath.
3. The gas supply valve is opened and the burner is lighted up.
4. The calorimeter coil assembly is placed back inside the calorimeter housing slowly to
prevent the burner from lights off.
5. The calorimeter outlet spout is positioned over the section of changeover funnel and
drained into the sink.
6. The experiment can be started.
Experiment 1: Boys Calorimeter

1. The time is recorded as the meter pointer approached the top of the dial on the gas meter.
2. The temperature of water inlet is recorded by using thermometer attached at the
calorimeter coil assembly.
3. The water outlet from the calorimeter is collected using pipe from the section of
changeover funnel into the measuring cylinder.
4. The time taken is stopped when the gas meter pointer had completed one revolution.
5. The water outlet temperature and gas temperature is recorded by using thermometer
attached at the calorimeter coil assembly.
6. The volume of water collected in the measuring cylinder is recorded.
7. Step 1 until 6 is repeated at least 3 times to achieved average reading.
Shut-down procedure:
1. The calorimeter coil assembly is lifted from the calorimeter housing and placed in the
alkaline bath.
2. The burner is put off and the gas supply valve is turned off.
7. RESULTS
Barometer reading: 747 mmHg
Time taken to
Temperature (°C) Volume of
complete a Volume
Revolution water collected
revolution of gas (L)
Win Wout Gin (mL)
(min)
1 28.2 47.0 33.0 2310 5.48 2
2 28.2 46.2 33.0 2600 6.04 2
3 28.2 45.0 33.0 2660 6.09 2
Calculated results:
Flow rate of gas Calorific value Average calorific value

Revolution
(L/min) (Mj/m3) (Mj/m3)
1 0.365 217290.48
2 0.331 234162.16 225015.83
3 0.328 223594.84
8. CALCULATIONS
Sample calculation at 1st resolution:
Flow rate of gas, L/min:
𝟐
𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒂𝒔, 𝑳⁄𝒎𝒊𝒏 =
𝟓. 𝟒𝟖
= 𝟎. 𝟑𝟔𝟓
Calorific Value, CV:
𝑪. 𝑽. = 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪 × 𝑫
where,
𝑨 = 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆
𝑩 = 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝑳
𝑪 = 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖𝟕 (𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔)
𝑫 = 𝑮𝒂𝒔 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆
𝑪. 𝑽. = (𝟒𝟕 − 𝟐𝟖. 𝟐) × 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟎𝒎𝑳 × 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖𝟕 × 𝟏. 𝟏𝟗𝟓

= 𝟐𝟏𝟕𝟐𝟗𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 𝑴𝒋⁄𝒎𝟑
Average Calorific Value, CV:
𝟐𝟏𝟕𝟐𝟗𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 + 𝟐𝟑𝟒𝟏𝟔𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟐𝟐𝟑𝟓𝟗𝟒. 𝟖𝟒

=
𝟑
= 𝟐𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟏𝟓. 𝟖𝟑 𝑴𝒋⁄𝒎𝟑
9. DISCUSSION
As the objective of the experiment is to calculate the calorific value of the sample which
is Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) by using calorimeter. At the end of the experiment, all of the
important data needed to calculate the calorific value of the LPG can be recorded and had been
tabulated in the result above.
From the result, we can obtain the calorific value by using the formula given. Based on
the formula, all value can be obtained directly through the result, but the Gas Volume Factor
need to be taken from table provided. From the table, we need to interpolate as our ambient
pressure is 747 mmHg which is not listed in the table. From the interpolation, we get the Gas
Volume Factor and thus can be used to obtain the calorific value for LPG. We take the average
data of the calorific value of LPG as we repeat the experiment for 3 times and get 225015.83
Mj/m3.
From the result above, we can conclude that the result of this experiment shows a huge
amount of energy to be transferred for the LPG to other medium, as for this case of experiment
to the water in the calorimeter. But from this result, we cannot consider that this is a success
experiment. The theoretical value of calorific value for LPG is 117.45 Mj/m3. By comparing
the theoretical value and obtained value from this result, it gave a huge difference. The
difference may because of several error that affect the data of this experiment.
One major error that may affect the result is incomplete combustion of Bunsen burner
flame. Theoretically, the flame of Bunsen burner must be in blue colour to indicate it is in
complete combustion and does not produce black smoke. But during the experiment had been
carried out, the Bunsen burner produced an orange flame which indicate the LPG does not
combust completely. The flame also creates a black smoke and soot to the calorimeter coil
assembly surface.
10.CONCLUSION
As a conclusion for this experiment, we had achieved the objective of the experiment
which is to obtain and calculate the Calorific Value of Liquified Petroleum Gas. But there is a
huge difference between the calorific value that we achieved from the experiment to the
theoretical value for LPG. The difference may because of several external and internal
disturbance.
11.RECOMMENDATIONS
In every single experiment essentially will have errors and the practice to lessen the
error and precaution method are present as follow:
1. As we are handling the experiment with flammable gas, make sure that the equipment has
no leakage. If there is any leakage, consult with lab assistant.
2. Use proper PPE as the equipment might generate heat to the environment.
3. The burner must produce a blue flame which indicate the gas is fully combusted by
controlling the amount of gas supply using the gas supply valve.
4. Place the calorimeter coil assembly slowly to make sure the flame from the burner does
not put off.
5. Carefully collect the water produced from the calorimeter coil assembly by using pipe into
the measuring cylinder as the water might be hot.
12.REFERENCE
1. Helmenstine, A. M. (2019, August 20). What Is a Calorimeter? Retrieved November 9,
2019, from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-calorimeter-in-chemistry-604397.
13.APPENDIX

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Calorific value is a sum of energy released in a complete combustion condition at standard

Figure 2: Gas supply

Figure 4: Gas meter

Figure 7: Measuring cylinder

Experiment 1: Boys Calorimeter

Flow rate of gas Calorific value Average calorific value

Calorific Value, CV:

𝑪. 𝑽. = (𝟒𝟕 − 𝟐𝟖. 𝟐) × 𝟐𝟑𝟏𝟎𝒎𝑳 × 𝟒. 𝟏𝟖𝟕 × 𝟏. 𝟏𝟗𝟓

Average Calorific Value, CV:

𝟐𝟏𝟕𝟐𝟗𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 + 𝟐𝟑𝟒𝟏𝟔𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟐𝟐𝟑𝟓𝟗𝟒. 𝟖𝟒

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