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Ch 17: Temperature and Heat
Chapter 17, Problem 17

A laboratory technician drops a 0.0850-kg sample of unknown solid material, at 100.0°C, into a calorimeter. The calorimeter can, initially at 19.0°C, is made of 0.150 kg of copper and contains 0.200 kg of water. The final temperature of the calorimeter can and contents is 26.1°C. Compute the specific heat of the sample

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Identify the given values: mass of the sample (m_s = 0.0850 kg), initial temperature of the sample (T_s_i = 100.0°C), mass of copper can (m_c = 0.150 kg), initial temperature of copper can (T_c_i = 19.0°C), mass of water (m_w = 0.200 kg), specific heat of water (c_w = 4186 J/kg°C), specific heat of copper (c_c = 385 J/kg°C), and final temperature of all contents (T_f = 26.1°C).
Calculate the heat lost by the sample as it cools down to the final temperature using the formula: Q_s = m_s * c_s * (T_s_i - T_f), where c_s is the specific heat of the sample.
Calculate the heat gained by the water using the formula: Q_w = m_w * c_w * (T_f - T_c_i).
Calculate the heat gained by the copper can using the formula: Q_c = m_c * c_c * (T_f - T_c_i).
Set the heat lost by the sample equal to the total heat gained by the water and copper can (since heat lost by the sample is gained by the water and copper can), and solve for the specific heat of the sample, c_s. Use the equation: Q_s = Q_w + Q_c.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Specific Heat Capacity

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of a substance by one degree Celsius. It is a material property that varies between different substances and is crucial for understanding heat transfer in calorimetry. The formula used to calculate heat transfer involves specific heat, mass, and temperature change, making it essential for solving calorimetry problems.
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Calorimetry

Calorimetry is the science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes, as well as heat capacity. In this context, it involves using a calorimeter to measure the heat exchanged between the unknown solid sample and the water and copper in the calorimeter. The principle of conservation of energy states that the heat lost by the hot object must equal the heat gained by the cooler substances.
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Heat Transfer

Heat transfer refers to the movement of thermal energy from one object or substance to another due to a temperature difference. In this scenario, the hot solid sample transfers heat to the cooler water and copper until thermal equilibrium is reached. Understanding the direction and amount of heat transfer is essential for calculating the specific heat of the unknown material using the heat exchange equations.
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Related Practice
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