2. You used a calorimeter in the Heat Transfer lab. Explain how the calorimeter works, and how to calculate the heat given off or absorbed by the reaction being studied.

A calorimeter works by having a known mass of known material combust or react in an enclosed space. The calorimeter has an agent for absorption of the heat released during the process of combustion or reaction. For example, the heat absorbing agent may be water. The change in temperature of the heat absorbent along with its specific heat capacity and mass are used to compute the energy released using the equation:

Q = mCΔT