Mary H. answered • 05/07/25
Tutor
New to Wyzant
certified pharmacy technician-Tutoring in pharmacy and medical t
Great question! Let’s break this down step-by-step:
- Which has a higher temperature when you first take it out?
- Both the salt and the rice were heated in the same oven at the same temperature, so technically, they should both be at 250°C when removed. However, salt tends to absorb and retain heat more efficiently than rice due to its physical properties. So, while the air temperature is the same, salt may feel hotter because of how it conducts heat.
- Which cools down faster?
- Rice cools down faster than salt. That’s because rice has a lower thermal conductivity, meaning it doesn’t hold on to heat as well as salt does. Salt retains heat longer, so it cools more slowly.
- Which has the lower specific heat?
- Salt has a lower specific heat than rice. Specific heat is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C. Since salt heats up and cools down faster (with less energy), it has a lower specific heat. Rice, needing more energy to change temperature, has a higher specific heat.
- Why does the rice adhere to the side of the mug?
- When rice cools, it releases a bit of moisture and starch. This can make it stick to the mug's surface, especially as it dries. Salt, on the other hand, is dry and crystalline, so it doesn’t cling in the same way.
In Summary:
- Salt and rice are heated to the same temperature, but salt may feel hotter.
- Rice cools faster.
- Salt has a lower specific heat.
- Rice sticks to the mug due to moisture and starch.
Let me know if you'd like help with more chemistry lab concepts—I’d be happy to help you master them!
