EXPERIMENT NO.

3
HEAT OF COMBUSTION: CALORIC VALUE OF FOODS

OBJECTIVES

 To determine the energy released per gram of a food burned; and

 To compare the calorie content of different food samples.
APPARATUS

 Thermometer
 Soda can (empty)
 Glass rod
 Iron stand
 Iron ring
 Digital balance
 Large paper clip
 Graduated cylinder
 Burner
MATERIALS

 Food samples (marshmallow, almond, biscuit, mang juan)

 Aluminium foil

OBSERVATIONS & RESULTS

1. Four empty soda cans were prepared. With the use of a graduated cylinder, 50 ml of water
was being measured accurately and was poured into the empty soda can. The procedure was
repeated to the other 3 empty soda cans.
2. Food samples were prepared and 2 grams of each food samples which was the marshmallow,
chip, almonds and biscuit were weighed using a digital balance.
3. A paper clip was prepared and was held horizontally and the outer end of the clip paper was
bent upwards at a 90° angle to the rest of the paper clip.
4. Each of the food sample was placed on the paper clips upward-extending end.
5. After placing the food samples at the extending end of the paper clip, the initial mass of each
of the paper clips with the food samples were determined. The paper clip with Marshmallow
weighed 9 grams, paper clip with almonds weighed 8 grams, paper clip with mang juan weighed
8 grams as well as the paper clip with the biscuit.
6. A box covered with aluminum foil was prepared instead of a cork which served as the base of
the paper clip containing the food sample.
7. The soda can with 50 ml of water was positioned in the ring stand which was supported by
the stirring rod that was inserted at the soda can tab. 4 different soda cans containing the same
amount of water were used and positioned in the ring stand.
8. The ring stand was adjusted in order for the soda can to be approximately 4 above the food
sample.
9. After the soda can was positioned in the ring stand, the initial temperature of the water
inside the soda can was measured using a thermometer which was 31°C.
10. The sample food which was approximately 4cm below the soda can was being ignited and
the temperature of the water inside the soda can was being monitored and the highest
temperature observed was being recorded. Also, when the food sample that was ignited turned
off, the mass of the food sample together with box was recorded.
11. The mass of the burned sample food was determined by adding the initial mass of food plus
the paper clip subtracted by the final mass of food sample plus the paper clip. The initial mass
of the marshmallow was 9 grams subtracted by its final mass which was 8 grams which resulted
to 1gram. The initial mass of Mang Juan was 8 grams subtracted by its final mass which
was 7 grams was equal to 1 gram. The initial mass of Almonds was 8 grams subtracted
by its final mass which was 7 grams was equal to 1 gram. The initial mass of Biscuits was
8 grams subtracted by its final mass which was 7 grams was equal to 1 gram.
12. With the data that were gathered, the energy absorbed by the water was calculated
wherein the formula in order to get the energy absorbed by the water was Q=Mh2oCh2oΔT
where Q = was the heat absorbed by the water, m = was the mass of water in grams, Cp = was
the specific heat of water with a constant value of 1cal/gC° and ΔT referred to as the change of
temperature. After the first sample was ignited which was the marshmallow, the change of
temperatue of water was calculated which was ( 39°C-31°C ) that results to 8 celsius degree
which means that the water absorbed the heat released by the ignition of the marshmallow.
The energy absorbed by the water was calculated afterwards which resulted to 400 calories and
then converted to .4 kilocalories. The same procedure was done to the three food samples.
13. After the heat absorbed by the water was computed, the energy content of the food in
kilocalories per gram was calculated where Q = to the heat absorbed by the water / by the mass
burned which was equal to 1 gram. Since all of the 4 food samples have the same amount of
mass burned, the same quantity of mass was used in determining the energy content of each
food sample only that they differed in their values of Q.
14. After doing the procedures, the following data below was recorded.

SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3 SAMPLE 4

Marshmallow Mang Juan Almonds Skyflakes
Mass of burned sample 1g 1g 1g 1g
Temperature change in °C 8 C° 27 C° 40 C° 31 C °
Heat absorbed by water 400 cal 1350 cal 2000 cal 1550 cal
Energy content of food 0.4 kcal/g 1.35 kcal/g 2 kcal/g 1.55 kcal/g
(kilocalories/g)

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

According to the gathered data and computations, food sample 3 which was the almonds
contains the highest energy content of food among all the sample requires the highest
temperature. Therefore, a higher energy content of food contains an oily solid or liquid substance
or simply fat – an oily or greasy matter making up the bulk of adipose tissue. For an instance,
nuts/almonds were known as high in calories. This is because a large part of an almond were fat,
which had more concentration in source of energy. Along with the experiment, an almond was
being burned and an oil boosted up or increased the capacity of the flame in order to get the
highest temperature, however, water absorbs the energy released by the food sample.