How many Joules are required to increase the temperature of 13 g of alcohol from 11°C to 23°C? The specific heat of alcohol is 2.47 J/g°C:

Answer 1

The conventional equation that one uses for these types of questions is

q = mC∆T

q = heat = ?

m = mass = 13 g

C = specific heat = 2.47 J/gº

∆T = change in temperature = 23º - 11º = 12º

Solving for q, we have:

q = (13 g)(2.47 J/gº)(12º)

q = 385.3 J = 390 J (2 sig.figs.)

Answer 2

Hi again,

The specific heat capacity allows us to find out how much energy we need to "put into" a certain mass in order to increase its temperature by 1º C

ΔT = (23º C - 11º C) = 12º C

(13 g) * (2.47 J/g°C) * ΔT = (13 g) * (2.47 J/g°C) * (12º C) = 385.3 J

Notice how grams and º C cancel and give us a final unit of J.