Calculating Heat Transfer from Boiling Water on Skin

[dcramps]

Homework Statement

If 4.0 g of boiling water at 100.0°C was splashed onto a burn victim’s skin, and if it cooled to 45.0°C on the 37.0°C skin, (a) how much heat is given up by the water? (b) How much tissue mass, originally at 37.0°C, was involved in cooling the water?

Homework Equations

Q=mcΔT

The Attempt at a Solution

For part a)
ΔT = 100.0°C - 45.0° = 55.0°C
c for human tissue is 3.5kJ\kgK
m = 4.0g = 0.004kg

Q=(0.004kg)(3.5kJ\kgK)(55.0°C)
Q=0.77kJ

Is this correct, or am I supposed to convert my temperatures to Kelvin? The 3.5kJ\kg*K throws me off a bit.


For part b)
I used the same equation, but plugged in my answer from part a, and 37°C
0.77kJ=m(3.5kJ\kgK)(37.0°C)
m=0.77kJ/(3.5kJ\kgK)(37.0°C)
m=0.005945946kg
m=5.95g

Have I done everything correctly here? I am reasonably sure that my answer for part a is correct, but part b I am not.

 

[EstimatedEyes]

The temperature, in this situation, need not be in Kelvin. Since degrees Kelvin are exactly the same size as degrees Celsius, one only needs to use Kelvin if absolute temperature is required, as in the Ideal Gas Law. All of your math appears to be correct, by the way.

 

[dcramps]

Great, thank you. Although...my math is correct, yes, but did I use the proper equation for part b? My math can be correct all it wants, but I'll still get no marks if I use the wrong equation ;)

 

[EstimatedEyes]

Yes, that is the correct equation.

 

[dcramps]

Awesome. Thanks!

 

[Mapes]

Hold on, why are you combining the temperature change of the water with the heat capacity of the skin?