Final answer:
Sources of experimental error in measuring specific heats include calorimeter heat absorption, inaccurate temperature readings, heat loss to the environment, and poor insulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Several sources of experimental error can affect the accuracy of specific heat measurements in a chemistry lab setting. Major sources of error include the heat absorption by the calorimeter, inaccurate temperature measurements, heat loss to the surroundings, and imperfect insulation. To reduce these sources of error, ensuring accurate calibration of thermometers, improving insulation, and accounting for the heat capacity of the calorimeter can lead to more accurate results. Accurate thermal properties are key for understanding how different materials, such as glass and metals, will behave under various temperatures.