When a sample of food is burned, it caused the temperature of the water in a calorimeter containing 1990. g of water to increase by 8.9oC. Calculate the amount of heat gained by the water.

Answer 1

q = mC∆T

q = heat = ?

m = mass = 1990 g

C = specific heat of water = 4.184 J/gº (joules / gram / degree)

∆T = change in temperature

Solving for q, we have ...

q = (1990 g)(4.184 J/gº)(8.9º)

q = 74103 J (joules)

Answer 2

74,138.246 joules

We need to look at the specific heat for water, which is 1 calorie or about 4.186 joules.

Specific heat is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of one gram of the chemical, water, by one degree C.

We know that we are increasing the temp in C by 8.9 degrees and that we have 1990 grams of water.

Calories = 8.9X1990 = 17,711 calories

Joules (or heat) = 17,711 X 4.186 = 74,138.246 joules of heat