Specific Heat molten lead Question

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the final temperatures of water and molten lead when they are mixed. The specific heat of solid lead and the latent heat of fusion are provided, along with the initial masses and temperatures of both substances.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the necessity of including the latent heat of fusion in the calculations, with some asserting it should be ignored while others suggest it must be accounted for.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing debate regarding the treatment of the latent heat of fusion in the calculations. Some participants express confidence in the original poster's approach, while others offer differing perspectives on the handling of specific heat values.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies between the original poster's calculations and the textbook answer, raising questions about potential errors in the textbook. Additionally, a participant mentions a different specific heat value for lead from another source.

Wellesley
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Homework Statement



If you pour 0.50 kg of molten lead at 328°C into 2.5 liters of water at 20°C, what will be the final temperatures of the water and the lead? The specific heat of (solid) lead has an average value of 3.4 X 10-2 kcal/kg • °C over the relevant temperature range.

Homework Equations


Q=mass*c* [tex]\Delta[/tex] T
Qfus=m*cfus
masspb=0.50 Kg @328oC
cpb=34 cal/KgoC
Tfinal=?
cfusion=6800 cal

The Attempt at a Solution



Qfusion=6800 cal/Kg * 0.50 Kg= 3400 cal
Qpb = 3400 cal + .50Kg * 34 cal/KgoC* (328-x)
Qpb=3400+5576-17x

For Water:
QH2O=2.5 Kg * 1000 cal/KgoC * (x-20oC)
QH2O=2500x-50000

Setting these equal to each other I get:

2500x-50000=3400-17x+5576
2517x=58976 cal
x=23.4311oC

The back of the book has the answer of 22oC.

I can get 22oC as an answer only if I subtract the latent heat of fusion:

2500x-50000=17x+5576
2517x=55576
x=22.0803oC

The math seems pretty straight forward, so it makes me wonder whether the book made an error, or I did.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.
 
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I think your answer is right. There's no reason to subtract the heat of fusion.
 
ideasrule said:
I think your answer is right. There's no reason to subtract the heat of fusion.

Thanks for the reply. This is the second time I've seen errors in the book, that's why I needed to make sure I hadn't made an error.
 
I would not say "subtract", I would say "ignore". But it has to be taken into account.
 
I realize this is a year old. But I just did the same problem but my book says the specific heat of lead is 140 J/kg*°C. Just in case somebody else reads this.
 

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