How do impurities affect the specific heat capacity of water?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of impurities on the specific heat capacity of water, particularly in the context of a homework problem. Participants explore the calculation of specific heat capacity and its implications for temperature changes in water samples with impurities.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the specific heat capacity of water is high at 4.184 J/gºC and suggests that impurities lower this value.
  • Another participant calculates the specific heat capacity of a sample to be 0.9 J/gºC based on the given data but expresses uncertainty about the second part of the question.
  • A third participant reiterates the need to plug in values into the specific heat equation and discusses the meaning of specific heat capacity, emphasizing the relationship between heat input and temperature change.
  • A fourth participant provides the specific heat equation and questions their own calculation, indicating they did not arrive at the same value of 0.9 J/gºC.
  • Discussion includes an analogy comparing the specific heat capacities of water and copper to illustrate the concept of heat absorption and temperature change.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing calculations for the specific heat capacity, with no consensus on the correct value. The second part of the question regarding the implications of a lower specific heat capacity remains unresolved, with various interpretations offered.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on specific definitions and assumptions about specific heat capacity, but there are indications of confusion regarding calculations and interpretations of the results.

purehavoccc
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Does anyone know how to do this? :rolleyes:

I've tried to figure it out but it aint working =/
its for a test i got to turn in now. argh.

The specific heat capacity of water is high, 4.184 J/gºC. The presence of impurities in a sample of water lowers its specific heat capacity. What is the specific heat capacity of the sample if 100 grams of it now requires 200 Joules of heat for a 1.8ºC temperature increase? What are the effects of the low specific heat capacity of the sample of water?

Its okay if anything, i just need to pass this test, anything would help about now. Thank you guys very much.
 
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Im probably waay to late to help you out. :frown:Im taking that test now. the answer to the specific heat equation is 0.9 J/g C...but I need the second part of that question :confused:
 
purehavoccc said:
Does anyone know how to do this? :rolleyes:

I've tried to figure it out but it aint working =/
its for a test i got to turn in now. argh.

The specific heat capacity of water is high, 4.184 J/gºC. The presence of impurities in a sample of water lowers its specific heat capacity. What is the specific heat capacity of the sample if 100 grams of it now requires 200 Joules of heat for a 1.8ºC temperature increase? What are the effects of the low specific heat capacity of the sample of water?

Its okay if anything, i just need to pass this test, anything would help about now. Thank you guys very much.
The first part is nothing more than plugging in the given values. For the second part, understand what specific heat capacity means. A given material can take in a corresponding amount of heat; look again at the units, and use the idea that temperature can be a variable. If x joules of heat are put into a material but temperature changes very little, then heat capacity is a value. If x joules of heat are taken into a material but change of temperature is large, then value of heat capacity is less.

The units for specific heat capacity is (Joules/(gram.degreesC));
Note that "grams" and "degreesC" are in denominator position.
 
You can just plug the information into this equation then solve for the unknown.

Heat = Mass x Specific heat capacity x temperature change

I did not get .9 J/g C when I worked the problem, but maybe I'm doing it incorrectly, its been awhile.

For the second question, specific heat is joules over grams times temperature change. So if the specific heat of water is 4.18J/g C, it is saying that it takes 4.18 joules to heat 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius. If you have a lower specific heat then that is telling you what?

Another example, the specific heat of copper is .385J/g C. So if you have a copper pan on the stove, which heats up faster, then pan or the water in the pan? Thinking about this should give you a suitable answer to the second part of the question.
 

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