Final answer:
The essential parts required to construct a simple calorimeter are two Styrofoam cups (interior and exterior) and a thermometer cover. The dual cup system minimizes heat exchange, while the thermometer cover allows for temperature measurement. This coffee-cup calorimeter setup is commonly used in educational settings for experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
To build a simple calorimeter, the necessary parts are: an exterior Styrofoam cup, an interior Styrofoam cup, and a thermometer cover. The dual Styrofoam cups are used to thermally isolate the system from the surroundings. The exterior styrofoam cup serves as the outer protective layer, while the interior cup holds the substance for the experiment. The thermometer cover, which may include a stirrer, extends through into the reaction mixture. This setup ensures minimal heat loss to the environment. Some calorimeters also have a handheld stirrer, but this is not as crucial as the cups or the thermometer. A conductive probe is not generally required in constructing a basic calorimeter.
A simple coffee-cup calorimeter can be effectively used in educational settings to measure the heat involved in chemical reactions or the energy content of foods, although it is less accurate than industrial calorimeters due to greater heat exchange with the environment.