Gases, unlike solids and liquids, have neither fixed volume nor shape. They are molded entirely by the container in which they are held.
A calorimeter contains reactants and a substance to absorb the heat absorbed. The initial temperature (before the reaction) of the heat absorbent is measured and then the final temperature (after the reaction) is also measured. The absorbent's specific heat capacity and mass are also known. Given all of this data, the equation:
Q = mcΔT
To find the heat released.
