What is the final temperature when mixing heated and cool water?

  • Thread starter Thread starter chem_tr
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Calorimetry
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The final temperature when mixing 4 liters of water heated from 10°C to 90°C with 16 liters of water at 10°C is 26°C. This conclusion is reached by applying the principle of conservation of energy, where the heat lost by the hot water equals the heat gained by the cooler water. The calculations involve using the formula Q = mcΔt, where m is mass, c is specific heat capacity, and Δt is the change in temperature. The correct approach considers the total volume of water, leading to the established final temperature of 26°C.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of calorimetry principles
  • Familiarity with the specific heat capacity of water (4.19 kJ/kg·°C)
  • Basic algebra for solving equations
  • Knowledge of mass and temperature units in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of calorimetry in detail
  • Learn how to apply the conservation of energy in thermal systems
  • Explore specific heat capacity variations for different substances
  • Study more complex calorimetry problems involving phase changes
USEFUL FOR

Students in physical chemistry, educators teaching calorimetry, and anyone interested in thermodynamics and heat transfer calculations.

chem_tr
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
608
Reaction score
3
I haven't found my textbooks on physical chemistry, so I want to ask the forum members.

When we heat 4 liters of water from 10°C to 90°C, and add this to 16 liters of water at 10°C, what will the final temperature be?

My brainstorming revealed the following, but I'm not sure if they are correct or not (my physical chemistry really sucks):

If we heat 4 liters of water to 90°C, we must give an energy which equals Q=m \times c \times \Delta t=4000 \times 1 \times (90-10)=320000~cal. This amount of energy is dissipated in the whole pool of water, so 320000=16000 \times 1 \times (t_{final}-10)=>t_{final} is found to be 30°C

I am almost sure it is wrong, so could anybody please show me the very logic of this type of calorimetric problem?

Thank you.
 
Last edited:
Chemistry news on Phys.org
You have a total of 20 liters, not 16. That help?
 
When we heat 4 liters of water from 10°C to 90°C, and add this to 16 liters of water at 10°C, what will the final temperature be?

mc(x-90)=m_2c(x-10)

-x represents the equilibrium temperature

-heat lost by the 90 degree water is gained by 10 degree water

I'm pretty sure this is correct
 
Let me try:

(\mbox{heat lost})=-(\mbox{heat gained})
(mc\Delta t)_{1}=-(mc\Delta t)_{2}
(4\mbox{kg})(4.19\mbox{kJ/kg}\cdot^{\circ}\mbox{C})({t_{f}-90^{\circ}°\mbox{C})=-(16\mbox{kg})(4.19\mbox{kJ/(kg}\cdot^{\circ}\mbox{C})({t_{f}-10^{\circ}\mbox{C})

Solving for t_{f} gives 26°C.
 
I will try it slightly other way - let's assume 10 deg C is a 'basic' state. Your heating adds 4*1000*80 calories. Now you use that heat in the 20000 ml of water. So your delta T is 4*1000*80/20000 = 16 which gives final temperature of 26 and is exactly the same result Sirus posted.


Chemical calculators for labs and education
BATE - pH calculations, titration curves, hydrolisis
 
Oookay, so I have made the error of not considering the total volume as Bystander suggested; my logic doesn't seem so wrong. Thank you all!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 131 ·
5
Replies
131
Views
10K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
686
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
8K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K