Acalorimeter is used in an experiment. the initial temperature of the system was found to be 32 degrees celsius. the final temperature was found to be 48 degrees celsius. discuss the direction of transfer of energy and the resulting change in enthalpy (if any).

1) Direction of transfer of energy.

The energy is thermic, i.e. heat.

The direction of heat transfer is always from the hotter substance to the coolest substance.

We can see that the system increased the temperature (from 32 degrees initially to 48 degrees at the end), that means that the substance added to the calorimeter was hotter than the system. Then, the heat (energy) went from the substance added to the calorimeter.

2) Resulting change of enthalphy.

Assuming non heat losses, all the heat lost by the substance added is transferred to the system, so the enthalpy of the substance decreased, the enthalpy of the initial system decreased, but the total enthalpy didn't change.

Answer is to avoid experimental error