This lab was meant to show students how to calculate heat of combustion of a
substance, in this case paraffin wax from a candle. The candle was
melted to a note card and the mass of both was taken. Temperature of
chilled water and the room were also taken. The cold water was put into a
pop can that was suspended above the candle. The candle was lit and the
water was heated until the water temperature was as far above room temperature
as it had started below. The mass of the candle and card after heating was
taken. Using the equation for specific heat capacity and the mass of the
candle that burned, the heat of combustion was calculated for paraffin
wax. This was compared to the actual value and percent error was taken.