Finding Specific Heat of Unknown Metal

a1234

1. Homework Statement

I'm asked to find the specific heat of Metal X in this simulation:
http://group.chem.iastate.edu/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/flashfiles/thermochem/heat_metal.html

Mass of Metal X = 120 g
Temp of Metal X = 220 degrees
Mass of Water = 30 g
Initial Temp of Water = 20 degrees
Final Temp of Water = 85.6 degrees
Specific Heat of Water = 4.186 J/gram C

2. Homework Equations

ΔQ = mCpΔT is the equation for finding the heat needed to change the temperature.

3. The Attempt at a Solution

Qwater = mwater*cpwater*change in temperature
Qwater = 30*4.186*65.6
Qwater = 8238.048 J

I think the Q of the metal would be -8238.048 J. I'm not sure what to do from there.

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Eclair_de_XII

I think the Q of the metal would be -8238.048 J. I'm not sure what to do from there.
It's been a while since I've done this, so someone please correct me if I am mistaken... So you have the initial heat of your metal as $8.24 kJ$. Specific heat capacity is measured in terms of $\frac{J}{g⋅K}$. A total of $8.24 kJ$ of energy was transferred using $120 g$ of metal, at $493 K$. Can you think of a quantity to describe the heat that can be transferred from this metal for any given mass and temperature?

Last edited:

a1234

Is it 0.51?
I did these calculations after getting the Q for the metal:
Cpmetal = Q/(m*change in temp)
Cpmetal = -8238.048/(120*-134.4)
Cpmetal = 0.51

Eclair_de_XII

Cpmetal = Q/(m*change in temp)
Cpmetal = -8238.048/(120*-134.4)
Cpmetal = 0.51
That looks correct to me. You should also add in your units.

"Finding Specific Heat of Unknown Metal"

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