A substance requires 64 J of heat to raise its temperature by 6°C. If the mass of the substance is 3.03 g, what is the specific heat of the substance?

Question

What is the specific heat of the substance?

Answer 1

Use formula Q = mcΔT

Q = energy in joules

m = mass in grams

c = specific heat (joules / grams * celsius)

ΔT = change in temperature (final temperature - initial temperature)

Using the formula, fill in what is given to you in the problem

64 J = (3.03 g) c (6ºC)

Solve for c using algebra. How do you isolate the variable c?

64 = (3.03)(c)(6) <- Simplified look without units

64 / (3.03)(6) = c

c = 3.5 J / g ºC