Question

Based on your results, was this setup (a chem caliometer) a good way to measure Calories as opposed to a bomb calorimeter? What types of experimental error may have occurred with this experiment? How might you design this setup differently if you had unlimited expenses for materials?

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Based on how each food burned, which food would be the best to use for a fuel that has a steady flame and might burn for a long time? What was the composition of this food (which macromolecule was it mostly composed of)? How does this relate to the way that the human body utilizes this type of macromolecule as fuel?

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Although protein was part of the composition of the foods in this experiment, it was not the main macromolecule component of any of the foods. Why do you think a food consisting primarily of protein was omitted from these tests, based on what you learned about the way the fuel is "burned" in the body?

Answer 1

1) Personally, I do not feel like the homemade calorimeter was agood way to measure calories as opposed to a bomb calorimeter.This is because the percentage of error ranged from 70-90percent, which is rather high. An experimental error may bebringing the burning flame to under your beaker too slow or toofast, causing the flame to burn for less time. If given unlimitedexpenses for my materials, I would design my calorimeter in away that I could have the burning food inside of the water, so Icould get the most accurate reading possible

2) potato chip burned the longest. The potato chip was mostly composed of carbs and fat. Carbsand fat take the longest to burn and are used as a source of fuel for the body.

3) Protein does not break down to release energy instead when broken down the amino acids areused to build the body’s own proteins and nucleic acids. Proteins were probably left out becausethey do not release energy after being broken down.

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