Calculating Specific Heat: 50g of Unknown Substance at 25°C to 89.7°C

In summary, the unknown substance has a specific heat of 51.56 J/gC, based on the given information of 50 grams absorbing 2.578 kj of energy as it changed from 25 degrees celcius to 89.7 degrees celcius. The formula used to calculate this is q = m c delta T, with q representing heat, m representing mass, c representing specific heat, and delta T representing the change in temperature.
  • #1
Jurrasic
98
0
50 grams of a substance absorbed 2.578 kj of energy as it changed from 25 degrees celcius to 89.7
What is the specific heat of the unknown substance in J/gC ?

Is it correct to use :
q = m c delta T

q = specific heat
m = mass
c = ?
delta T here is 64.7

The answer seems really big? Is it :
(50grams) x (2578kj) x (64.7 C ) = answer ?
That seems wrong? Is there a more correct way to do it?
 
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  • #2
You've got your quantities confused. q = heat put into or taken away from the substance in Joules. c = specific heat of the substance in J/gC.
 
  • #3
SteamKing said:
You've got your quantities confused. q = heat put into or taken away from the substance in Joules. c = specific heat of the substance in J/gC.

LOL oh thanks :)~

Got it working now haha
 

1. What is specific heat and how is it measured?

Specific heat is a measure of how much energy is needed to raise the temperature of a specific substance by a certain amount. It is measured in joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C) or calories per gram per degree Celsius (cal/g°C).

2. What is the difference between specific heat and heat capacity?

Specific heat is a property of a substance, while heat capacity is a property of an object or system. Specific heat refers to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a certain amount of a substance, while heat capacity refers to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of an entire object or system.

3. How does specific heat affect the temperature of a substance?

The higher the specific heat of a substance, the more energy it will require to raise its temperature. This means that substances with a higher specific heat will take longer to heat up and cool down compared to substances with a lower specific heat.

4. How is specific heat used in practical applications?

Specific heat is an important concept in many practical applications, such as cooking, heating and cooling systems, and industrial processes. It helps us understand how much energy is needed to heat or cool a substance, and how different substances respond to changes in temperature.

5. Can specific heat be changed?

Specific heat is an intrinsic property of a substance and cannot be changed. However, the temperature range in which the specific heat is measured can affect its value, so it is important to specify the temperature range when discussing specific heat values.

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