Question

Why is a thin sheet of copper used while making the calorimeter?

Answer 1

Hint : To answer this question, first we need to understand the role of the calorimeter. So a calorimeter is a device used to measure the heat evolved or released during a chemical reaction or other processes.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
As we know, a calorimeter is a device used to measure the transferrable heat during the reaction. So it should be made up of a material that has low specific heat capacity and low heat emission or absorption rate.
For example, if a reaction is exothermic and the heat is released in the solution in a calorimeter, then it will show an increase in temperature just by absorbing less heat.
Thus, when we talk about copper - it has a very low specific heat capacity, which helps us to reach the equilibrium temperature really fast and that too by absorbing a very little heat.
One more point that makes copper an excellent choice for the formation of calorimeter and that is its high malleable nature. As copper is highly malleable, it can be easily turned into thin sheets and can be converted to a small box or in the desired shape by just putting in less efforts.

Note :
Calorimeters are developed by the concept of latent heat. In $1761$ , Joseph black led to the idea of latent heat that resulted in the creation of the first ice calorimeter ever. And Antoine Lavoisier used it for the very first time.