Specific Heat Capacity
Specific heat = heat required to raise 1 g of
substance 1°C
Substance
Specific Heat
Every substance has it’s own
specific heat because it has a
different arrangement of atoms
(J/g°C)
Water
4.18
Aluminum
0.897
Gold
0.129
Ethanol
2.44
Specific Heat Calculations
q = c × m × ΔT
•
•
•
•
q = heat = J
c = specific heat capacity = J / g°C
m = mass = g
ΔT = change in temperature =°C
ΔT = Temp Final – Temp Initial
Specific Heat Problems
1. If the temperature of 34.4 g of ethanol increases
from 25°C to 78.8°C, how much heat has been
absorbed by the ethanol? (Specific heat for
ethanol = 2.44 J/(g°C) )
Specific Heat Problems
2. If the temperature of a 100 g piece of aluminum
increases from 20°C to 150°C, how much heat
has been absorbed by the aluminum. The
specific heat of aluminum is 0.897 J/(g°C).
Specific Heat Problems
3. A 4.5 g nugget of pure gold absorbed 276 J of
heat. What was the final temperature of the
gold if the initial temperature was 25°C. The
specific heat of gold is 0.129 J/(g°C).
Specific Heat Problems
4. A 155 g sample of an unknown substance was
heated from 25°C to 40°C. In the process, the
substance absorbed 5696 J of energy. What is
the specific heat of the substance?
Specific Heat Problems
5. A 352 g sample of an unknown substance was
heated from 40°C to 100°C. In the process, the
substance absorbed 7696 J of energy. What is
the specific heat of the substance?
Specific Heat Problems
6. If the temperature of 300 g of ethanol increases
from 20°C to 100°C, how much heat has been
absorbed by the ethanol? (Specific heat for
ethanol = 2.44 J/g°C)
Specific Heat Problems
7. What is the mass of a substance that has a
specific heat of 0.449 J/g°C and raises its
temperature in a calorimeter from 20°C to 90°C
when it release 12,300 J of energy?
Specific Heat Problems
8. What is the mass of a substance that has
a specific heat of 0.362 J/g°C and raises
its temperature from 25°C to 110°C
when it absorbs 8700 J of energy?