The heat capacity of an object indicates how much energy that object can absorb

Question

The heat capacity of an object indicates how much energy that object can absorb for a given increase in that object's temperature. In a system in which two objects of different temperatures come into contact with one another, the warmer object will cool and the cooler object will warm up until the system is at a single equilibrium temperature.

Note the difference between the terms molar heat capacity, which has units of J/(molC), andspecific heat, which has units of J/(gC).

A volume of 120. mL of H2O is initially at room temperature (22.00 C). A chilled steel rod at 2.00 C is placed in the water. If the final temperature of the system is 21.00  C , what is the mass of the steel bar?

Use the following values:

specific heat of water = 4.18 J/(gC)

specific heat of steel = 0.452 J/(gC)

Express your answer to three significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Explanation / Answer

Heat from water is transfered to the steel rod

Qlost by water = Q gained by rod

m water = 120 g (density of water is 1g/mL)

Cp = 4.18 J/(g.C)

dT = 22 - 21 = 1 C

m rod = ?

Cp = 0.452 J/(g.C)

dT = 21 - 2 = 19 C

120 x 4.18 x 1 = m x 0.452 x 19

m = 58.407 g

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.