Final answer:
To determine the initial temperature of the water, use the equation Q = mcΔT and rearrange to solve for the initial temperature. In this case, the initial temperature of the water is 85.84 °C.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the initial temperature of the water, we need to use the equation for heat transfer:
Q = mcΔT
Where Q is the heat energy absorbed by the water, m is the mass of the water, c is the specific heat capacity of water, and ΔT is the change in temperature of the water.
In this case, we are given the mass of the water (30 g), the heat energy absorbed by the water (6000 J), and the final temperature of the water (90 °C). We can rearrange the equation to solve for the initial temperature:
Q = mcΔT
6000 J = (30 g)(4.184 J/g°C)(90 °C - T)
Solving for T:
T = 90 °C - 4.16 °C
T = 85.84 °C
Therefore, the initial temperature of the water was 85.84 °C.