Calorimetry....

Question

A 25.00 gram sample of an unknown metal initially at 99.0 degrees Celcius is added to 50.00 grams of water initially at 8.75 degrees Celcius. The final temperature of the system is 20.15 degrees Celcius. Calculate the specific heat of the metal

Answer 1

We will use mcΔT for this problem. We will have one variable: the specific heat of the metal that we will call c_m.

First, set up the equation.

25g(c_m)(20.15°C-99°C)+50g(4.814 J/g°C)(20.15°C-8.7°C)=0

-1971c_m + 2756=0

-1971c_m = -2756

c_m=1.398 J/g°C, which is 1.40J/g°C, taking significant figures into account.

Answer: 1.40 J/g°C