Question

Identification of Metal..................Copper......Copper.......Unknown......Unknown

Mass of test tube & metal shot...74.4593g...132.8115g...85.5094g.....61.018g

Mass of test tube........................32.0003g.....32.003g.....32.003g.........32.003g

Mass of the metal sample..........42.4562g.....100.8085g...53.5064g.....29.015g

Mass of the set-up......................3.2639g.......3.2639g.......3.2639g.......3.2639g

Mass of set-up&water.............101.7857g....100.9825g...99.5694g....100.7855g

Mass of water in calorimeter.......98.5218g......97.7186g....96.3055g....97.5216g

Initial temperature of metal sample...100C......100C..........100C............100C

Initial temperature of water..........23.55C..........25.29C........24.3213C....24.73C

Final temperature of water and metal25.55C....31.75C.......27.8417C....27.83C

ΔTwater........................................2C..................6.46C.........3.52C..........3.1C

ΔTmetal ....................................-74.85C............-68.25........27.8417C....27.83C

Specific Heat of water............................4.184J/gC.....................................

Heat energy gained by the water .....?....................?.................?.................?

Heat lost by the metal.......................?....................?.................?.................?

Calculated Specific heat...................?....................?.................?.................?

Average Specific heat ............................................?.....................................?

Actual Specific Heat of metal..................................0.385..............................?

% error....................................................................?......................................?

Show your calculations for determining the specific heat of all trials

Answer 1

For trial 1:

Heat energy gained by the water=msdT = 98.5218 g * 4.184J/gC * 2 C = 824.43 J

Heat lost by the metal = msdT =   42.4562 g * s_metal * 74.85 C

Calculated Specific heat = s_metal = (824.43 J)/( 42.4562 g * 74.85 C) = 0.26 J/gC                        [as heat lost by                                                                                                                                                         metal=heat                                                                                                                                                         gained by                                                                                                                                                         water]

For trial 2:

Heat energy gained by the water=msdT = 97.7186 g* 4.184J/gC * 6.46 C = 2641.2 J

Heat lost by the metal = msdT =   100.8085 g* s_metal * 68.25 C

Calculated Specific heat = s_metal = (2641.2 J)/( 100.8085 g * 68.25 C) = 0.384 J/gC

Average Specific heat = 0.26 + 0.384/2 = 0.322 J/gC

% error = (0.385-0.322/0.385)   * 100 = 16.4%

For trial 3:

Heat energy gained by the water=msdT = 96.3055 g* 4.184J/gC * 3.52 C = 1418.35 J

Heat lost by the metal = msdT =   53.5064 g* s_metal * 27.8417 C

Calculated Specific heat = s_metal = (1418.35 J)/( 53.5064 g * 27.8417 C) = 0.952 J/gC

For trial 4:

Heat energy gained by the water=msdT = 97.5216 g* 4.184J/gC * 3.1 C = 1264.89 J

Heat lost by the metal = msdT =   29.015 g* s_metal * 27.83 C

Calculated Specific heat = s_metal = (1264.89 J)/( 29.015 g * 27.83 C) = 1.566 J/gC

Average Specific heat = 0.952 + 1.566/2 = 1.259 J/gC