A piece of unknown metal absorbed 790.24 J of heat as it was heated from 40.0°C to 72.0°C. If the piece of metal weighed 55.0 g, what is the identity of the metal?

Given metal is iron

Explanation:

Given data:

Heat absorbed = 790.24 J

Initial temperature = 40.0 °C

Final temperature = 72.0 °C

Mass of metal = 55.0 g

Identity of metal = ?

Solution:

Specific heat capacity:

It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of substance by one degree.

Formula:

Q = m.c. ΔT

Q = amount of heat absorbed or released

m = mass of given substance

c = specific heat capacity of substance

ΔT = change in temperature

ΔT = 72.0°C - 40.0°C

ΔT =  32 °C

790.24 J = 55 g ×c ×  32 °C

790.24 J = 1760 g. °C  ×c

c = 790.24 J /1760 g. °C

c = 0.449 J/g. °C

The specific heat capacity of iron is 0.449 J/g. °C thus, given metal is iron.