A 11.6 g piece of metal is heated to 98°C and dropped into a calorimeter containing 50.0 g of water (specific heat capacity of water is 4.18 J/g°C) initially at 20.5°C. The empty calorimeter has a heat capacity of 125 J/K. The final temperature of the water is 28.2°C. Ignoring significant figures, calculate the specific heat of the metal.

Answer : The specific heat of the metal is,

Explanation :

Heat released by the reaction = Heat absorbed by the calorimeter + Heat absorbed by the water

where,

q = heat released by the reaction

= heat absorbed by the calorimeter

= heat absorbed by the water

c = specific heat of metal = ?

= specific heat of calorimeter =

= specific heat of water =

= mass of water = 50.0 g

m = mass of metal = 11.6 g

= final temperature =

= temperature of metal =

= temperature of water =

Now put all the given values in the above formula, we get:

Thus, the specific heat of the metal is,

false

because it does not have the potential to be entirely used up