Jan 18 Class - Lab
Heat of Combustion of Candle (paraffin) Wax

Materials:

• candle
• matches
• weigh scale
• lab stand
• wire mesh or triangle
• thermometer
• water

Procedure:

1. Set up the lab stand and wire mesh (low enough for fire to heat up)
   
2. Measure 150 mL of cold water and pour it into the metal can, using a graduated cylinder.
3. Record the temperature of the watter.
   
4. Record the mass of the candle before lighting it.
5. Place the candle under the can and carefully light it
6. Let the candle burn for aprx. 5 minutes. Record the new temperature of the water. Record the mass of the candle after the experiment.
7. Clean up your lab station.

Observations:
These are my groups observations...
Volume of water used: 150 mL
Initial Temperature of Water: 21°C
Initial Mass of Candle: 10.46g
Final Temperature of Water: 26°C
Final Mass of Candle: 9.8g

The accepted value for the molar heat of combustion of Paraffin Wax is aprx. 14500. We concluded that it was 1652. We were 88% wrong. Some possible sources of error were when the water and wax spilled, when we did not leave the thermometer in long enough, and when we did not record as precisely.