What is the equilibrium temperature of a system containing ice and steam?

In summary, an insulated bucket containing 150 g of ice at 0°C is injected with 26.0g of steam at 100°C. Using the heat flow equation, the final equilibrium temperature of the system can be determined to be 268 degrees Kelvin. It is important to use the correct signs for all quantities in the equation to accurately calculate the equilibrium temperature.
  • #1
jennypear
16
0
An insulated bucket contains 150 g of ice at 0°C. If 26.0g of steam is injected at 100°C into the bucket, what is the final equilibrium temperature of the system in °C?

this i what I've done so far
q(ice)=150g*333.5J/g=50025J
q(steam)=26g*2257J/g=58682J

q(ice) + q(ice-water) = -[q(steam) + q(steam-water)]

50025J + 4.18J/g*150g(Tf-273)=-[58682J + 4.18J/g*26g(Tf-373)]
20025J + 327J*Tf - 171171J = -58682J -108J*Tf + 40538J
-121146J + 627J*Tf = -18145 - 108J*Tf
735J*Tf=103002
Tf=140degree K

this is obviously wrong...what am i missing?
 
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  • #2
You are adding an extra minus sign. Think of it this way:
Heat gained by ice/water = Heat lost by steam/water
 
  • #3
Doc Al said:
You are adding an extra minus sign. Think of it this way:
Heat gained by ice/water = Heat lost by steam/water

so you are saying
q(ice) + q(ice-water) = q(steam) + q(steam-water)

50025J + 4.18J/g*150g(Tf-273)=58682J + 4.18J/g*26g(Tf-373)
121146J + 627J*Tf = 58682J + 108J*Tf - 40538J
519J*Tf=139290J
Tf=268degree K

which is still wrong...
did i understand you correctly?
 
  • #4
jennypear said:
50025J + 4.18J/g*150g(Tf-273)=58682J + 4.18J/g*26g(Tf-373)
Note that since Tf will be between 273 and 373 K, Tf-373 is negative.

I always think in terms of heat lost versus heat gained; these quantities are always positive.
 
  • #5
jennypear said:
q(ice) + q(ice-water) = -[q(steam) + q(steam-water)]

50025J + 4.18J/g*150g(Tf-273)=-[58682J + 4.18J/g*26g(Tf-373)]
If you prefer to use this form of the heat flow equation, which is perfectly OK, then be sure to use the correct signs for all quantities. Note that q(steam) should be negative since heat is flowing out of the steam.
 
  • #6
hmm tricky:) thanks so much will look at it that way in the future
 

What is equilibrium temperature?

Equilibrium temperature refers to the temperature at which a system is in thermal equilibrium, meaning that there is no net transfer of heat between different parts of the system.

How is equilibrium temperature calculated?

The equilibrium temperature can be calculated using the formula T = (Q / mC), where T is the temperature, Q is the heat energy transferred, m is the mass of the system, and C is the specific heat capacity of the material.

What factors affect equilibrium temperature?

The factors that affect equilibrium temperature include the amount of heat energy transferred, the mass and specific heat capacity of the system, and the initial temperatures of the different parts of the system.

Why is equilibrium temperature important?

Equilibrium temperature is important because it helps us understand how energy is transferred and distributed within a system. It also allows us to predict the final temperature of a system after heat has been transferred, which is crucial for many applications in engineering and science.

How does equilibrium temperature relate to the laws of thermodynamics?

The concept of equilibrium temperature is closely related to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that in a closed system, energy will flow from higher to lower temperatures until thermal equilibrium is reached. This is important for understanding energy transfer and conversion in various systems.

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