What would be the greatest difference in using an open ceramic coffee mug rather than an insulated mug with a lid as a calorimeter?

1. increased evaporation of the water

2. loss of gaseous reactants

3. inability to contain liquids

4. exchange of energy with the surroundings

The answer is number 4 or the exchange of energy with the surroundings. Calorimetry is a measurement of energy that is formed or absorbed in a certain process. The calorimeter is the instrument used in order to measure the energy. It is recommended that a calorimeter should be a closed system so as to measure precisely the energy and avoid or lessen the exchange of energy with the surroundings. Thus, comparing an open ceramic mug and an insulated mug with a lid, the greatest difference is the energy lost to the surroundings.