The molar heat capacities of 1-(2-hydroxy-3-chloropropyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (Ornidazole) (C7H10CIN3O3) with purity of 99.72mol% were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range between 79 and 380K. The melting-point temperature, molar enthalpy Delta(fus)H(m), and entropy, Delta(fus)S(m), of fusion of this compound were determined to be 358.59 +/- 0.04K, 21.38 +/- 0.02 kJ mol(-1) and 59.61 +/- 0.05 J K-1 mol(-1), respectively, from fractional melting experiments. The thermodynamic function data relative to the reference temperature (298.15 K) were calculated based on the heat capacities measurements in the temperature range from 80 to 380 K. The thermal stability of the compound was further investigated by DSC and TG. From the DSC curve an intensive exothermic peak assigned to the thermal decomposition of the compound was observed in the range of 445-590 K with the peak temperature of 505 K. Subsequently, a slow exothermic effect appears when the temperature is higher than 590 K, which is probably due to the further decomposition of the compound. The TG curve indicates the mass loss of the sample starts at about 440K, which corresponds to the decomposition of the sample. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.