Question

A bomb calorimeter consists of metal parts with a heat capacity of 950.0 J °C⁻¹ and 8.50 x 10² grams of oil with a specific heat of 2.418 J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹. When 1.500 g of a hydrocarbon fuel is combusted in a bomb calorimeter, the temperature increases from 25.00 °C to 31.60 °C. What is the specific heat of the hydrocarbon fuel?

a) 0.215 J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹
b) 0.825 J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹
c) 2.142 J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹
d) 3.510 J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹

Answer 1

To determine the specific heat of the hydrocarbon fuel, calculate the heat absorbed by the water and metal parts of the calorimeter and subtract it from the total heat released by the combustion of the fuel.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the specific heat of the hydrocarbon fuel, you can use the heat gained by the water in the calorimeter.

First, calculate the heat absorbed by the water using the equation:

q = m × C × ΔT

Where q is the heat absorbed by the water, m is the mass of the water, C is the specific heat of water (4.184 J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹), and ΔT is the change in temperature of the water.

Next, calculate the heat absorbed by the metal parts of the calorimeter using the equation:

q = C × ΔT

Where q is the heat absorbed by the metal parts, C is the heat capacity of the metal parts, and ΔT is the change in temperature of the metal parts.

Finally, subtract the heat absorbed by the water and the metal parts from the total heat released by the combustion of the hydrocarbon fuel to find the heat absorbed by the fuel.

The specific heat of the hydrocarbon fuel would be the heat absorbed by the fuel divided by the mass of the fuel.