What is the specific heat of chromium calculated from her data?

Question

In the laboratory a student finds that it takes 98.4 Joules to increase the temperature of 13.6 grams of solid chromium from 21.2 to 38.3 degrees Celsius.

Answer 1

q = mC∆T

q = heat = 98.4 joules (J)

m = mass = 13.6 g

C = specific heat = ?

∆T = change in temperature = 38.3º - 21.2º = 17.1º

Solving for C, we have...

C = q / m ∆T = 98.4 J / (13.6 g)(17.1º)

C = 0.423 J/gº