Experiment to determine the specific heat of an unknown metal by using calorimet

Question

Experiment to determine the specific heat of an unknown metal by using calorimetry.

6.5 Discussion te your results. In your discussion, explain how the following errors would The Styrofoam cups were not dry when you determined the mass of the . When the metal was added to the calorimeter, some of the water splashed - When the metal was added to the calorimeter, several of the hot metal beads . Water splashed into the test tube of metal beads before the beads were sta affect the results of the experiment: empty cups. out. spilled onto the counter. weighed

Explanation / Answer

To determine the specific heat of an unknown metal by using calorimetry,the following equation is used-

Energy released by metal=Energy gained by water.

When heated metal is dropped into water in the styrofoam cup calorimeter,the temperature of water changes.The temperature changes of both water and the metal,is to be noted.

Energy released by metal=mass of metal*Specific heat of metal*change in temperature

Energy gained by water.=mass of water * Specific heat of water * change in temperature

Thus,Specific heat of metal=Energy gained by water/(mass of metal*change in temperature)

1) Mass of water=mass of cup filled with water-mass of empty cup

If the cup was not dry then,the value of mass of water will be erroneously large ,thereby giving a larger value for ';Energy gained by water'.Thus,the value of specific heat will also be larger than actual.

2) If the mass of water is lesser,due to splashing out,then the value of ';Energy gained by water' will also be less than actual ,thus specific heat value calculated using above equation will give a smaller value than actual.

3)If some amount of metal is lost,mass of metal will be lesser than actual .Thus,Specific heat of metal will be larger than th actual value according to the above equation.

4)The mass of the beads will be erroneously larger due to water being added to the test tube containing the metal beads before weighing.Thus ,

Specific heat of metal=Energy gained by water/(mass of metal*change in temperature will give smaller value of Specific heat of metal.(the given parameter is in the denominator,which reduces the value of the result)

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