Question

A student is using a calorimeter to determine the specific heat of a metallic sample. She measures out 122.2 grams of her metal and heats it to 95.0 degrees Celsius. Then, she puts the sample into a calorimeter containing 14.61 grams of water at 40.8 degrees Celsius. She measures the temperature of the water in the calorimeter until the number stops changing, then records the final temperature to be 61.7 degrees Celsius. What is the specific heat of the metal? Please answer to three digits after the decimal point.

Answer 1

To find the specific heat of the metal, we can use the formula qmetal = -qwater and solve for c, where c is the specific heat of the metal. Plugging in the given values, we get c = 0.501 J/g°C. Therefore, the specific heat of the metal is 0.501 J/g°C to three digits after the decimal point.