Question

It takes 11.2 kJ of energy to raise the temperature of 145 g of benzene from 23.0 degrees Celsius to 68.0 degrees Celsius. What is the specific heat of benzene?

Answer 1

The specific heat of benzene can be calculated using the formula q = mcΔT, where q is the energy transferred, m is mass, c is specific heat, and ΔT is temperature change. For this question, calculating with the given values results in the specific heat of benzene being approximately 1717.2 J/kg°C.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the specific heat of benzene, we use the formula for heat transfer:

q = mcΔT

where q is the heat energy (in joules), m is the mass (in kilograms), c is the specific heat capacity (in J/kg°C), and ΔT is the change in temperature (in °C).

First, we will convert the heat energy from kilojoules to joules:

11.2 kJ = 11200 J

Next, we substitute the known values into the equation:

11200 J = 145g × c × (68.0°C - 23.0°C)

To find the specific heat (c), we divide both sides by the mass and the temperature change:

c = 11200 J / (145g × 45.0°C)

Before performing the calculation, we convert the mass from grams to kilograms (since the specific heat capacity unit is J/kg°C):

145g = 0.145 kg

c = 11200 J / (0.145 kg × 45.0°C)

c = 11200 J / 6.525 kg°C

c = 1717.2 J/kg°C

Thus, the specific heat of benzene is approximately 1717.2 J/kg°C.