A sample of water with a mass of 965.1 g and an unknown temperature gains 322300 Joules. If the final temperature is found to be 97.61 C . What was the initial temperature? *

Answer 1

q = mC∆T

q = heat = 322300 J

m = mass = 965.1 g

C = specific heat of water = 4.184 J/gº

∆T = change in temperature

Plug in these values and solve for ∆T and then subtract ∆T from 97.61ºC to get the initial temperature. You subtract the ∆T because the problem states that the water GAINS heat energy, so the temperature will go up from initial to 97.61º