Final answer:
To find the mass of water releasing 60000 J of energy while cooling from 40.0°C to 20.0°C, use the specific heat capacity formula, resulting in approximately 7.169 kg of water.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the mass of water that releases 60000 J of energy while cooling from 40.0 degrees Celsius to 20.0 degrees Celsius, we can use the specific heat capacity equation of water: Q = mcΔT, where Q is the energy transferred, m is the mass of the water, c is the specific heat capacity of water (4.186 J/g°C), and ΔT is the change in temperature. Given that ΔT is (20.0°C - 40.0°C) = -20.0°C, we can rearrange the formula to find the mass (m).
m = Q / (cΔT) = 60000 J / (4.186 J/g°C × 20.0°C) = 7169.07 g or approximately 7.169 kg of water.