A 134.7 g piece of copper (specific heat 0.380 J/g･°C) is heated and then placed into 400.0 g of water initially at 20.7°C. The water increases in temperature to 22.2°C.

Question

What is the initial temperature (in °C) of the copper? (The specific heat of water is 4.184 J/g･°C).

Answer 1

Good afternoon. We can set this problem up in the following manner:

(mass Cu) x (sp. heat Cu) x (temp. change Cu) = (mass H₂O) x (sp. heat H₂O) x (temp. change H₂O)

(134.7g) x (0.380 J/g C) x (temp. change Cu) = (400.0g) x 4.184 J/g C) x (1.5 C)

(temp. change Cu) = 49.0 ^oC

In this type of calorimetry problem, we assume that the final temperature of the water is the same as the final temperature of the metal. The final temperature of the metal is 22.2 ^oC.

To derive the initial temperature of the copper, add 22.2 ^oC + 49.0^oC