Mixing ice, steam, and water and find equilibrium

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves mixing steam, water, and ice to find the final temperature and phases of the mixture. The scenario includes 0.15 kg of steam at 100 degrees Celsius, 0.2 kg of water at 50 degrees Celsius, and 0.2 kg of ice at 0 degrees Celsius, with the assumption that no energy is lost to the surroundings.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss energy conservation and the heat transfer between steam, water, and ice. There are attempts to set up equations based on heat gained and lost, with considerations of phase changes. Questions arise regarding the specific heat capacities used and the assumptions about boiling and condensation.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, particularly regarding the phase changes of steam and water. Some guidance has been offered on setting up the equations and considering the implications of the latent heats involved. There is no explicit consensus on the final outcome, but reasoning is being developed around the conditions of the system.

Contextual Notes

There are mentions of specific heat capacities and latent heats, with some participants questioning the units used in calculations. The discussion also touches on the assumptions about whether all the steam condenses or if some remains as steam.

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Homework Statement


.15 kg of steam at 100 degree celsius is mixed with .2kg of water at 50 degree and .2 kg of ice at 0 degree. Determine the final temperature and phase(s) of the final state. Assume that no energy is lost to the surroundings.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I am thinking that since energy is conserved, the steam will lose energy while the ice and water will gain.

Therefore

-Q_steam + Q_water + Q_ice = 0

I know Q = mc*deltaT

The answer key I have says that the end result will be 100 degree with .485 kg water, and .065 kg steam. I would try to test if the all of the steam and ice condense and melt if I didn't know this.

So ice will all melt

Q_ice = .2*2100*(T-0) + .2*L_f

Q_water = .2*4190*(T-50)

Q_steam = .15*c*(T-100) + x*L_v

There are 3 possibilities, 1) none of the water boils 2) some of the water boils 3) all of the water boils. In this case, it is option 2. T must be 100

Q_ice = .2*2100*100 + .2*3.34*10^5 = 108800
Q_water = 41900
Q_steam = x*2.256*10^6

x = .0667 kg of steam turns into water

If this is the case, I have 1.43 kg of steam left and .4667 kg of water after the ice melt. This answer is however incorrect. Where did I go wrong?
 
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i don't remember the specific values but for the heat capacities - did you use the values which had units J/g C or J/g K??

If you used the latter then you should have converted all your celsius figures to kelvins.

p.s. none of the water did boil after all, did it?
 
No, if the final answer has .485 kg of water and .065 kg of steam, then none of the water boiled. So it's option 1. In fact, some of the steam condenses.

Qsteam = mLcond
Qwater = (0.2)cwater(50)
Qice = (0.2)Lfus + (0.2)cwater(100)

Wher Lcond is the latent heat of condensation for steam to water, Lfus is the latent heat of fusion (melting) for ice to water, and cwater is the specific heat capacity of water. Note Lcond is a negative quantity. You want to solve for m in the following equation:

mLcond + (0.2)Lfus + 30cwater = 0

It's easy, just plug in numbers and isolate, or better yet isolate then plug in numbers. You then argue that since the value for m is between 0 and 0.15 (you should get this if the book is right), your solution is consistent thus the only possibility. If you want a less ad hoc approach, you can compare

|0.15Lcond|

to

|0.2Lfus|

You should find that the first quantity is much bigger, hence in this set up, all of the ice will melt. So either all the steam condenses, none of it condenses, or some of it does. If all of it condenses, then it takes at least |0.15Lcond| away from the total energy, and the ice and water contribute at most 0.2Lfus + 30cwater to it, and you should find that there's no way in this situation for the total energy to be zero (it will have to be negative). If none of it condenses, well then it loses no energy and the ice and water strictly gain energy, so again there's no way for the total energy to be zero (it will have to be negative). Therefore, some of the steam must condense. Now you're justified in setting up the equations the way I did.
 
Thank you very much for the help
 

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