Question

A block of an alloy of mass 37.0 g and at a temperature of 15.51 °C is placed in a calorimeter containing 41.0 g of water at 81.93 °C. If the final temperature of the alloy and water is 39.77 °C, calculate the specific heat (in J/g/K) of the metal. The specific heat of water is 4.184 J/g/K. Express your answer to ***(((three significant figures)) in scientific notation.

Answer 1

Answer – We are given, mass of alloy block, m1 = 37.0 g , ti = 15.51°C

Mass of water, m2 = 41.0 g , ti = 81.93°C, tf = 39.77°C,

specific heat of water is 4.184 J/g.K, specific heat of metal = ?

m1 * C metal * ∆t = -m2 * C water * ∆t

37.0 g * C metal* (39.77 – 15.51)^oC = - 41.0 g * 4.184 J/g.K * (39.77 -81.93)^oC

C metal*897.6 = 7232.3

C metal = 7232.3 / 897.6

              = 8.06 J/g.K

the specific heat (in J/g/K) of the metal is 8.06 J/g.K