Question

If 15,550 calories were transferred to a 450 g chunk of iron at 20.˚C the temperature increases to 338 oC. What is the heat capacity of solid iron in calories?

A. 1.41 cal/°C
B. 2.23 cal/°C
C. 3.89 cal/°C
D. 4.77 cal/°C

Answer 1

The heat capacity of the solid iron chunk is not among the given options, as the calculations yield a value of 49.05 cal/°C, which is the product of specific heat per gram and the mass of the iron chunk.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the heat capacity of solid iron in calories, we can use the formula:

heat = mass × specific heat × change in temperature (T)

Where:

• heat (q) = 15,550 calories
• mass (m) = 450 g
• T = final temperature - initial temperature = 338°C - 20°C = 318°C

Specific heat (c) can be calculated by rearranging the formula:

c = heat / (mass × T)

Plugging in the values we get:

c = 15,550 cal / (450 g × 318°C)

c = 0.109 cal/g°C

However, we are looking for the heat capacity for the whole chunk of iron, not per gram. So we calculate the heat capacity (C) as:

C = c × mass

C = 0.109 cal/g°C × 450 g

C = 49.05 cal/°C

Therefore, the correct answer is not listed among the provided options (A to D).