31.5 grams of an unknown substance is heated to 102.4 C and then placed into a calorimeter containing 103.5 grams of water at 24.5 C. If the final temperature reached in the calorimeter is 32.5 C, what is the specific heat of the unknown substance?

1 Answer
Abhinav T.
Jul 21, 2016

#0.38 C g^-1 (degree C)^-1#

Explanation:

Since heat gained by substance equals heat lost by water, and heat transferred is given by
#H = m*c*Delta (theta)#
where, m is the mass of the substance,
c is its specific heat capacity
And #Delta (theta)# is change in temperature,
#31.5*c*(102.4-32.5)=103.5*1*(32.5-24.5)#
Then,
#c=(103.5*8)/(31.5*69.9)#
#=828/2201.85#
#=0.38#

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