A 45.0 g block of an unknown metal at 95.0 °C is quickly placed into an insulated…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Thermal Properties of Matter · Thermal Properties of Matter
Problem
A 45.0 g block of an unknown metal at 95.0 °C is quickly placed into an insulated beaker containing 120.0 g of water at 22.0 °C. After thermal equilibrium is reached, the mixture’s temperature is 27.6 °C. No heat exchange occurs with the surroundings other than between the metal and the water.
(a) Calculate the specific heat capacity (J g⁻¹ °C⁻¹) of the metal sample.
(b) Determine the magnitude of thermal energy transferred between the two substances and state whether the metal absorbed or released that energy.
(c) The student incorrectly recorded the initial temperature of the water as 20.0 °C instead of 22.0 °C and proceeded with the calculations. Predict qualitatively whether this mistake would lead to an experimentally high, low, or unchanged value for the calculated specific heat capacity, and explain your reasoning.