Calorimeter

Calorimeter, an instrument for measuring quantities of heat, the name of which is a relic of the old caloric theory. The type of instrument generally employed involves the measurement of heat by observation of the rise in temperature of a known mass of water when the given amount of heat is presented to it. It is often difficult to make the correct allowance for loss by radiation or conduction. Favre and Silberman's calorimeter employs mercury instead of water, and indicates the amount of heat by the amount of expansion of the mercury. The ice-calorimeter measures the heat by the amount of ice it will just liquefy.