Option B.1 – Energy
B.1.1 – Calculate the energy value of a food from enthalpy of combustion data
Metabolism is the sum of the reactions taking place inside every living cell. Since all chemical reactions require energy, the food we eat needs to provide energy for our bodies to continue these metabolic processes. We can calculate the amount of energy in food using the equation:
Some of the important reactions in the body include those of respiration, which is the production of ATP from the sugar, glucose. Glucose is formed through the digestion of larger molecules, such as starch. The regular ingestion of the necessary food molecules provides the energy to support the reactions constantly taking place in our bodies.
Bomb Calorimeter
A bomb calorimeter is used to measure the heat of combustion of a substance. The data obtained using this equipment can then be substituted into the equation above to find the heat of combustion.
It is important to consider that the temperature readings are not 100% accurate due to the burning of the fuse, electrical energy input and heat absorption from the bomb.