Question

How does adding diffrent concentrations of sulfuric acid to water affect the specific heat capacity of the solution? A, S. Socolik, Z. Phys. Chem.158158A,305−312,(1932)305−312,(1932)gives the following heat capacities for the mixturesH_2SO_4H + H_2O at different mass percent at 20°C:

% H_2SO_4.... C_p in cal/g/K.
0% ----------- 1.000
12% ----------- 0.900
24% ----------- 0.812
36% ----------- 0.715
48% ----------- 0.611
60% ----------- 0.525
72% ----------- 0.464
84% ----------- 0.441
92% ----------- 0.372
100% --------- 0.332.

Answer 1

The specific heat capacity of a solution decreases as the concentration of sulfuric acid in water increases, starting from 1 cal/g/K for pure water to 0.332 cal/g/K for pure sulfuric acid.

Step-by-step explanation:

Adding different concentrations of sulfuric acid to water affects the specific heat capacity of the solution significantly. Water has a high specific heat capacity, which means it requires a lot of heat to change its temperature. However, as sulfuric acid is added, the specific heat capacity of the resulting solution decreases.

This is evident from the values provided for mixtures of H2SO4 and H2O at 20°C, which show a decreasing trend in specific heat (Cp) as the concentration of H2SO4 increases.

At 0% H2SO4, water alone, Cp is 1 cal/g/K, and this value drops to 0.332 cal/g/K at 100% H2SO4, highlighting the reduction in heat capacity with rising acid concentration.