# Enthalpy from Your Calorimeter Data

What does the temperature change in your calorimeter actually tell you about the energy released by a chemical reaction?

**Reflect on a calorimetry experiment you conducted or observed. Use the equation Q = mcΔt to calculate the heat absorbed by water. Then explain what this value represents in terms of the enthalpy change (ΔH) of the reaction. What assumptions did you make, and where might experimental error have affected your result?** ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23634), [Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23641), [Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23638))

### Where to start

- What were the mass and temperature change of the water in your experiment?
- How did you use Q = mcΔt to find the heat absorbed?
- Why is the heat absorbed by water equal to the heat released by the reaction?
- What does the negative or positive sign of ΔH tell you about whether the reaction is endothermic or exothermic?

### Stretch

Design an improvement to your calorimeter or experimental method that would reduce the sources of error you identified. Explain how your change would make the measured ΔH more accurate.

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*AILI prompt · language en · model claude-haiku-4-5-20251001 · generated 2026-09-17 · id edef7e04-476a-4d01-9716-41f8cd6c8b18*

### Sources

- node:n1: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23636)
- node:n2: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23634)
- node:n3: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23641)
- node:n4: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23647)
- node:n5: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23634)
- node:n6: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23636)
- resource:r1: Resources › type#activity › SCN3796 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/library/resource/9ykNTynh306g6EnZlkTITQ)
- node:n7: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23638)
- node:n8: Chemistry › Chemistry (20, 30) › Chemistry 30 › Unit A: Thermochemical Changes › General Outcome 1 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/23648)
- resource:r2: Resources › type#activity › SCN3796 (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/library/resource/0uxhxD914kqzmssVwCK4tg)