Calorimetry Lab Analysis (predict specific heat of unknown metal)

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around a calorimetry lab experiment aimed at determining the specific heat of an unknown metal using water as a heat transfer medium. The experiment involved heating the metal to 100°C (boiling point) and then placing it in room temperature water, measuring the temperature change. The user initially calculated a specific heat of 50 J/g°C, which was incorrect, as the specific heat of metals is typically less than 1 J/g°C. Through collaborative troubleshooting, the user corrected their temperature inputs and recalculated the specific heat, arriving at a more plausible value of 0.084 J/g°C.

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  • Understanding of specific heat capacity and its calculation
  • Familiarity with calorimetry principles
  • Basic knowledge of temperature scales (Celsius and Fahrenheit)
  • Proficiency in using spreadsheet software for data analysis
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  • Learn how to accurately measure temperature changes in experiments
  • Explore the use of Google Sheets for scientific data analysis and formula implementation
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Students conducting physics experiments, educators teaching calorimetry, and anyone interested in understanding heat transfer and specific heat calculations.

  • #31
Wubblyboofus said:
do you think i need ideal gas law?

I have no idea, because I don't know what you are doing. Besides, this is not relevant to your question in this thread.

and do you think you can help me with the thing on google sheets?

A what?

Zz.
 
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  • #32
$$C_{cube}=\frac{(30)(4.184)(26-20)}{(121.5)(100-26)}$$

?
 
  • #33
ZapperZ said:
I have no idea, because I don't know what you are doing. Besides, this is not relevant to your question in this thread.
well it turns out i don't need it as someone else explained to me

and google sheets is the thing that is kinda like microsoft excel that let's you make spreadsheets
 
  • #34
Chestermiller said:
$$C_{cube}=\frac{(30)(4.184)(26-20)}{(121.5)(100-26)}$$

?
0.084
 
  • #35
now we just need to find it for the other two trials, average it, and then find the metal with that specific heat

thank you so much!
 
  • #36
Wubblyboofus said:
0.084
Did I input the correct temperatures here?
 
  • #37
Chestermiller said:
Did I input the correct temperatures here?
yes i think you did
 
  • #38
but i fixed the spreadsheet data and now I am getting 1.1 J/gC
calorimetry is so weird
 
  • #39
Wubblyboofus said:
but i fixed the spreadsheet data and now I am getting 1.1 J/gC
calorimetry is so weird
Let's see your hand calculation.
 
  • #40
4.184*30*76.8/73.3/121.5=1.082
4.184*30*79.3/74/121.5=1.107
4.184*30*75.8/72.8/121.5=1.076

?
 
  • #41
Wubblyboofus said:
4.184*30*76.8/73.3/121.5=1.082
4.184*30*79.3/74/121.5=1.107
4.184*30*75.8/72.8/121.5=1.076

?
is the 76.8 in degrees C or degrees F? Is the 73.3 in degrees C or degrees F? What are the actual initial and final temperatures of cube and water for this case?
 
  • #42
Chestermiller said:
is the 76.8 in degrees C or degrees F? Is the 73.3 in degrees C or degrees F? What are the actual initial and final temperatures of cube and water for this case?
the 76.8 and 73.3 are changes in temperature
 
  • #43
Chestermiller said:
is the 76.8 in degrees C or degrees F? Is the 73.3 in degrees C or degrees F? What are the actual initial and final temperatures of cube and water for this case?
the actual are
trial namemass in gti in Ctf in Cmass water in gti water in Ctf water in Cct in Cct water in Cspecific heat in J/gC
UM1121.599.626.33022.899.673.376.81.082415239
 
  • #44
acronyms
ti initial temperature
tffinal temperature
ggrams
Cdegrees celsius
ctchange in temperature
Jjoules
UMunknown metal trial
LTlead trial
 
  • #45
How can the final temperature of the water be higher than the final temperature of the cube?
 
  • #46
the initial temp of the cube if before i put it into the boiling water
the final temp of the cube is after i put it in the boiling water for a couple minutes
the initial temp of the water is room temp (before i put the boiling cube in)
the final temp of the water is the highest temp the room temp water becomes after putting the cube in
 
  • #47
Wubblyboofus said:
the water ti and tf is how much the room temperature water was heated once the metal (at 212 C) was placed into it. so it goes from about 21 to 26 because the water has high specific heat so it is hard to raise its temperature even if a block of boiling metal is placed into it.
the metal ti and tf however is how much the metal was heated once placed into boiling water. so that would be from 21 to 212.

as i said earlier the procedure went as follows:
put metal into boiling water
metal is now at boiling temperature
put that same metal into room temp water
see how much the room temp water heats
calculate specific heat of metal
use that to identify the metal
You heated the water to 100C not 212C.
 
  • #48
Wubblyboofus said:
the initial temp of the cube if before i put it into the boiling water
the final temp of the cube is after i put it in the boiling water for a couple minutes
Are you aware that this has nothing to do with the measurement you are trying to make? The only reason for putting the cube in the boiling water was to establish its starting temperature for the subsequent measurement.
 
  • #49
tech99 said:
You heated the water to 100C not 212C.
yea i fixed that already
but i can't change the original post for some reason
i changed my spreadsheet though
 
  • #50
Chestermiller said:
Are you aware that this has nothing to do with the measurement you are trying to make? The only reason for putting the cube in the boiling water was to establish its starting temperature for the subsequent measurement.
oh
so would the new one be
water:
21 --> 26
metal:
212 --> 26
 
  • #51
this is due tomorrow dang
 
  • #52
and after i predict this i have to find the percent error of my calculations
 
  • #53
Wubblyboofus said:
oh
so would the new one be
water:
21 --> 26
metal:
212 --> 26
100 —> 26
 
  • #54
Chestermiller said:
100 —> 26
ok let me put it all thru the calculator again ugh
 
  • #55
i really appreciate your guys's help by the way. i probably would have never found my mistakes without you guys
thanks
 

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