Lavoisier-Laplace calorimeter
What is a calorimeter?
A calorimeter is a device that is used to measure the heat capacity of an object. This is the physical property of matter to store energy as heat.
Who are Lavoisier and Laplace?
Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794) is considered the father of modern chemistry. He often collaborated with mathematician Pierre Laplace (1749-1827), who was also French.
How did Lavoisier and Laplace invent the calorimeter?
Similar to many of his contemporaries, Lavoisier was fascinated by the phenomenon of heat. He wanted to build an instrument that could measure heat. His associate Laplace heard about the experiments carried out by Scottish scientist Black, who allowed ice to melt, and used this as a source of inspiration for his own work. This is how the calorimeter was invented.
How does this device work?
The calorimeter’s outer concentric chamber is filled with snow (insulation), the middle one with ice. In the inner chamber, you could, for instance, place a guinea pig. The guinea pig’s body heat melts the ice. The amount of meltwater allowed Lavoisier to calculate how many calories the guinea pig had burned.
