Specific Heat Capacity of Ice, Help

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the specific heat capacity of ice using data from a calorimetry experiment involving ice, water, and a copper calorimeter. Participants are analyzing the heat exchange between these components to derive the specific heat capacity of ice.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to apply the principle of conservation of energy to set up heat transfer equations. There are discussions about whether to include the specific heat capacity of copper and the mass of the calorimeter in the calculations. Some participants are questioning the validity of their calculated values in relation to known values for the specific heat capacity of ice.

Discussion Status

Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, with participants sharing different equations and approaches to calculate the specific heat capacity of ice. Some have made progress in their calculations, while others are seeking clarification on the assumptions made in their setups.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may impose specific methods or approaches to be used in the calculations. There is also an acknowledgment of potential discrepancies between calculated values and expected known values for the specific heat capacity of ice.

Prototype07
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



The following data is obtained:
Weight of ice cube added 20 g
Weight of copper calorimeter 80.5 g
Weight of water in calorimeter 105 g
Initial temp of ice cube -18 deg C
Initial temp of water 23 deg C
Final temp of water 6 deg C
Specific Heat Capacity copper 385 J kg-1K-1
Specific Heat Capacity water 4185 J kg-1K-1
Specific Latent Heat Fusion of Ice 335 kJ kg-1

Calculate a value for the Specific Heat Capacity of ice in J kg-1K-1.

Homework Equations



Q= Mass x Specific Heat Capacity x change in temperature

The Attempt at a Solution



I've tried countless attempts and literally spent hours trying to work this out, all have pointed to dead ends and I really don't know what else to try...
20g = 0.02kg
335kJ = 335000 J
105g = 0.105kg

(0.02kg x 335000J kg-1) + (0.02kg x c) x (6 - -18) = (0.105kg x 4185J kg-1K-1) x (23 - 6)
6700 + (0.02 x c) x 24 = 439.425 x 17
6700 + (0.02 x c) x 24 = 7470.225
0.02 x c x 24 = 770.225
c = 770.225 / (0.02 x 24)
c = 1604.635 J kg-1K-1

Now, I need to work out the SHC of ice which, pre-calculations, we should know it as being around 2000-2100, right? So surely that should mean 1604 is incorrect?
I've really got no idea what to do anymore, should I have included the SHC of copper and the mass of the calorimeter into the equation somewhere too?
Any help would be appreciated!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You have to consider that your system doesn't exchange heat with the universe, or in other words \delta Q_{U}=0, so all you have to do now is consider every component in the system that exchanges heat inside the system.

In a general form it would be something like this:

\delta Q_U=\delta Q_{Water}+\delta Q_{Ice} + \delta Q_{Copper}=0

Remember the system is in thermal equilibrium in the final stage, so you can solve it for the variable you need.

Hope this helps.

Note: \delta Q = Q.
 
Right, I -think- I made some progress
Assuming the specific heat capacity of copper is calculated to be 536.87
Q=m x c x delta t
therefore: Q = 0.0805 x 385 x 17
Q = 526.87

Would it then make sense to add this value to the current value of 1604.635
resulting in 2131.505?
This would seem to then confirm the assumed value of 2100..?
 
Well what I tried with this problem is:

Q_ice = -(Q_water + Q_copper)

Assuming that the copper changes temperature in the same way as the water inside of it, which is a fairly reasonably assumption or the temperatures wouldn't settle in the ways stated, this gives the heat transfer equation as

(m_ice x dT_ice x C_ice) + ( L_ice x m_ice) + (m_ice x C_water x dT'_ice) = -[(m_water x C_water x dT_water) + (m_copper x C_copper x dT_copper)]

Plugging in the numbers and rearranging gives me a value of C_ice at 2194 J/kgK.

P.S. Sorry for the screwy notation. Underscores indicate subscript, d is delta (or change in), m is mass, T is temperature, C is specific heat capacity, L is latent heat of fusion

EDIT: I forgot to mention, dT_ice is 18 degrees because it goes from -18 to 0 to melt, and dT'_ice is 6 because it then goes from 0 to 6 degrees before reaching equilibrium.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
6K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K