The most common unit of thermochemical energy in our everyday lives is the Calorie with a capital C, which equals 1 kcal (1000 calories) and is the amount of energy needed to heat 1 kg of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Review the Chemistry in Everyday Life inset Measuring Nutritional Calories in our textbook, and choose a food or beverage item with a nutritional label to discuss.

Requirements

What item did you choose, and why? Is it a favorite food of yours or your kids, or something you've associated with being healthy or unhealthy?

Attach a picture of the nutritional label, with your own camera or found online.

Do the Calories listed on the nutritional label match what is expected from the following basic formula? If they are different, what is the percent difference, and what are some possible reasons?

Total Calories = (g protein x 4 Calories/g) + (g carb x 4 Calories/g) + (g fat x 9 Calories/g)

Calorie density is the calculation of Calories/mass of a food and is often reported in Calories/pound. What is the Calorie Density of the food you chose in Cal/lb? Using the chart below, what category does your food belong in?

<300 Cal/lb	Low
300800 Cal/lb	Moderate
8001800 Cal/lb	High
>1800 Cal/lb	Very High

Theoretically, if you were to use one serving of the food you chose to start a fire under a pot of water, what volume of water could you bring to a boil at 100 C if all of the fire's energy was absorbed by the water? Now imagine putting that much water into a pot on a stove and boiling it. Does the amount of energy in your food surprise you?