Question

A calorimeter is adiabatic (no heat is transferred between the calorimeter and its surroundings). During a process, if the reactants are at an initial temperature T1 and the exothermic reaction raises the temperature to T2, heat released by the reaction will


a. raise the temperature of water in the calorimeter
b. lower the temperature of water in the calorimeter
c. raise the temperature of the air around the calorimeter
d. lower the temperature of the products
e. raise the temperature of the products

Answer 1

Because the calorimeter is adiabatic, the heat stays in the system and raises the temperature of the contents. So the heat will raise the temperature of the water in the calorimeter (a) — and it also raises the temperature of the products (e). It will not heat the surrounding air (c) nor lower temperatures (b, d).

If you must pick one best answer for a typical calorimetry question, choose (a).