A hydrocarbon sample was burned in a bomb calorimeter. The temperature of the calorimeter and the 1.00 kg of water rose from 20.45 °C to 23.65 °C. The heat capacity of the calorimeter, excluding the water, is 2.21 kJ/°C. Using this information, determine the heat released by the combustion.

Question

anonymous · Answer

So my main question is, after solving this problem i got a negative answer. But when looking at my answer options they are all positive? How is this so? I did get 20.5 kJ but NEGATIVE.

anonymous · Answer

I forgot to mention the way i set up my problem was Qreaction= - [Qbomb + Qwater]

anonymous · Answer

hope this helps _Heat released = heat to water + heat to calorimeter 

heat released = (4.187kJ/kgC * 1.00kg + 2.21kJ/C) * ( 23.65 - 20.45)C = ?? kJ 
i got 84.083kj

anonymous · Answer

Thank you @Karina1 but i checked and i initially got the right answer of 20.5 kJ but my sign was incorrect

aaronq · Answer

weird, the answer SHOULD be negative because it's an exothermic reaction.