Question

What is the specific heat of a metal sample if a 35 g sample absorbs 2.3 x 10-3 MJ of heat and its temperature changes from 25°C to 175°C?

Answer 1

The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1g of the substance by 1^oC. First, we need to convert the units of the quantities into workable units;

From Q = mC$\Delta$T

m = 35g

m=?

Q=(2.3 x 10-3MJ) x 1 000 000 J = 2300J

$\Delta$T = (175 - 25)^oC = 150^oC

Solve for C in the formula;

C $=\dfrac{C}{m\Delta T } = \dfrac{2300J}{35g x 150^oC} = 0.4381$ Jg^-1oC^-1