Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bomb calorimeter is a strong, sealed vessel used in scientific experiments to precisely measure the heat of combustion of a substance. It is designed to contain a sample that is burned in a high-pressure oxygen environment, allowing for accurate calculation of the energy content.

Usage

• The bomb calorimeter is a standard piece of equipment in analytical chemistry and thermodynamics labs.
• To determine the calorific value of a fuel sample, it is placed inside the bomb calorimeter.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The energy content of the coal was measured using a bomb calorimeter.
  • In the experiment, the sample was ignited within the bomb calorimeter, and the temperature change of the surrounding water bath was recorded.

Advanced Usage

• The term is specific to the field of calorimetry. The "bomb" refers to the robust, sealed nature of the reaction chamber, not to an explosive device.
• The measurements obtained from a bomb calorimeter are used to calculate a substance's enthalpy of combustion (ΔHc).

Variants and Related Words

• Calorimeter (n): A more general device for measuring heat transfer. A bomb calorimeter is a specific type of calorimeter.
• Calorimetry (n): The science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes.

Synonyms

• Combustion calorimeter: A direct synonym emphasizing its function.
• Constant-volume calorimeter: A technical synonym describing its operational principle, as the reaction occurs at a fixed volume.

Related Terms

• Heat of combustion (n): The amount of heat released when a substance undergoes complete combustion, which the device measures.
• Oxygen bomb (n): An informal term sometimes used for the core reaction vessel inside the calorimeter assembly.

Noun

1. strong sealed vessel for measuring heat of combustion