CChemistryS4 to S6Energetics

Energy from fuels lab: calorimetry of alcohols and kerosene

Families cook with kerosene, charcoal and, more and more, ethanol and gas. Which fuel gives the most energy? Measure it with a spirit burner and a can of water.

▶ Start the lab 🧠 Questions 📄 My report

LevelS4 to S6 (and IGCSE, A Level)

TimeAbout 45 min

You useq = m c ΔT, moles, enthalpy

PriceFree: no account

🎯 Aim

To measure the energy released when fuels burn and calculate their enthalpy of combustion, and to explain why experimental values are lower than data-book values.

You will learn to

Calculate energy transferred with q = m c ΔT.
Calculate moles burnt and the enthalpy of combustion.
Explain the trend in ΔH for a homologous series.
Evaluate sources of error and improvements.

🧭 What to do

Choose Ethanol, 200 g of water and a rise of 20 °C.
Tap Light the burner and watch the thermometer and the balance.
Read your ΔH and compare it with the data-book value.
Repeat with the other fuels, then with the Draught shield and lid.
Answer the questions with the class data.
Write your conclusion and download your lab report.

🔬 Lab bench

📋 The data

Spirit-burner results for five fuels (200 g of water heated by 20 °C, no draught shield).

🧠 Investigate: answer from the data

Type your answer and tap Check. Use 💡 Hint first; open the method only when you are stuck.

📄 My lab report

Your report collects the aim, your data table, the graphs, your answers and your conclusion. It is made on your phone or computer: nothing is sent to anyone.

My conclusion

Check your conclusion

The energy given to the water is q = m c ΔT and ΔH = −q ÷ n. Experimental values are smaller than data-book values because heat is lost to the surroundings and combustion is incomplete; a draught shield and lid improve the result. Down the alcohol series −ΔH increases by about 650 kJ/mol for each extra CH₂. Kerosene gives the most energy per gram but more soot.

➕ Get more from this experiment

📝 Free

Print the worksheet (button above), download the data, and save your report. Teachers can project this page in class.

📦 Premium Lab Pack

1 000 RWF

Practical worksheet for a real spirit-burner experiment
Energetics calculations with worked examples
Teacher guide and answer key
Exam-style energetics questions with marking scheme

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👩‍🏫 For teachers

Use it as a practical when apparatus is missing, as homework, or as a project. Free lesson plans help you plan, teach and assess.

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