Practice IV: Specific Heat of the Metal

Vaca O. Andrea, Carrasco Bryan

Laboratory of Physical Chemistry 2, School of Chemistry and Engineering,
YachayTech, Urcuqu. Ecuador.
Performed on October 27, 2017. Submitted on November 20, 2017.
Abstract
The heat capacity of a body is the relationship between the heat supplied to the body and its
temperature increase. In this experiment the specific heat of the metals like copper, steel and
copper-zinc are obtained from experiments in a calorimeter.

INTRODUCTION
To know the heat quantity involved in this

All data obtained in an experiments would process, it is necessary use the definition of

be treated to give reliable results. In some Q, given by:

cases the data can be adjusted a

=
mathematical model with propose of obtain
new data or to be able to interpolate. Where m is the mass of the body that
receives or donate heat, is the
Adjustment Methods
temperature difference reached due to the

The heat transfer occur between bodies heat transfer and is the Specific Heat of

which are at different temperature body. If
there are no other energy interaction, the
conservation of energy can be written as:
= substance one degree centigrade. If strict
The measurement of heat quantities is
carried on by what is known as the method
of mixtures; in which, according equation
1, the quantity of heat lost by the
warmer body is equal to that gained by the
cooler body, and some intermediate
equilibrium temperature is finally reached,
In this method it is supposed that no heat is
gained from or lost to the surroundings.
the material from which is made the
substance analyzed. The specific heat of a
substance is the number of calories required
to raise the temperature of one gram of the
attention is paid to the correct usage of units,
this definition of specific heat is actually the
definition of the thermal capacity of a
substance; then the specific heat of a
substance would be defined as the ratio of
the thermal capacity of the substance to the
thermal capacity of water.
For the determination of the specific heat of
a metal by the method of mixtures, it is used
a vessel in which the heat interchange takes
place, which is called the calorimeter. This 1. Take note of laboratory
method consists in make fall on a known temperature and atmospheric
mass of the solid and at a known pressure.
temperature, a known mass of hot water at a 2. Properly clean the beaker and
known high temperature. The equilibrium the calorimeter vessel.
temperature is then measured. The heat 3. Weigh 10 mL of cold water (ice
absorbed by the solid and the calorimeter is water) in a 50 mL beaker.
equal to the heat lost by the hot water. This 4. Pour the cold water into the
can be represented by: calorimeter vessel and weigh
the beaker again after you have
2 , 2 ()2 .
poured the water out. The
= [ () ] difference is the measured
amount of cold water that you
need.
Where 2 , and is the mass of the hot
5. Wait a couple of minutes and
water and the metal (in grams), respectively,
record the temperature of the
is the specific heat of the water,
mass of cold water.
()2 . and () is the temperature
6. While you wait, heat some
difference exhibited for the hot water and for
water to about 60C.
the metal, respectively, taking account that
7. Remove the water from its heat
both system reach the equilibrium
source and stir it for a couple of
temperature. The initial temperature of the
minutes. Take the temperature
cold water should be as much below room
of hot water.
temperature as the equilibrium temperature
8. Draw with a pipette 10 mL of
will be above it, so as to balance out errors
hot water and pour it quickly
due to losses of heat by radiation. Sometimes
into the calorimeter through the
it is convenient include inside the
top hole.
calorimeter vessel cold water, in which case
9. Stir the water in the calorimeter
it is necessary to include in the right side
and record the temperature
hand (rsh) of equation 3 the heat absorbed by
reading every 10 minutes. It is
the portion of cold water.
not necessary to remove the
cover to do this. Record the

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE highest temperature to the

nearest two-tenths of a degree.
Specific Heat of the Calorimeter
Specific Heat of the Aluminum - I
 1. Weigh 10 g of the aluminum 2. Record the temperature in the
sample, and put it into the calorimeter vessel with the cold
calorimeter vessel. Record the mixture.
temperature in the calorimeter 3. In a 50 mL beaker heat water to
vessel. about 60C.
2. In a 50 mL beaker heat water to 4. Take and quickly transfer, using a
about 60C. pipette, 25 mL of hot water and pour
3. Take and quickly transfer, using a it int the calorimeter vessel.
pipette, 10 mL of hot water and pour It is important that you recorded
it int the calorimeter vessel. the temperature of the hot water
It is important that you recorded when you take the known amount of
the temperature of the hot water hot water.
when you take the known amount of If you are not quick enough
hot water. transferring the aluminum sample,
If you are not quick enough the experimental results will
transferring the aluminum sample, erroneous
the experimental results will 5. Stir the mixture inside the
erroneous calorimeter vessel and record the
equilibrium temperature shortly
4. Stir the mixture inside the after.
calorimeter vessel and record the 6. Repeat the experiment another time
equilibrium temperature shortly to obtain a mean value.
after. 7. Dry the metal sample thoroughly on
5. Repeat the experiment another time paper towel for each repeat
to obtain a mean value. experiment.
6. Dry the metal sample thoroughly on
Specific Heat of the solids
paper towel for each repeat
experiment. Repeat the above procedure for the different
solids to be evaluated.
Specific Heat of the Aluminum - II

1. Weigh 15 g of cold water (from the

Methodology for treatment of
sink) and pour it into the vessel
experimental data, sample of calculation
calorimeter along with 10 g of
of results
aluminum.
Table 1. Recorded data from the
Calorimeter

Temperature of water hot (2 , ) 55 C

 Temperature of water cold (2 , ) 15C
Temperature at equilibrium (2 , ) 30C Determination of Specific Heat of the
Mass of water hot (2 , ) 9,86g copper
Mass of water cold (2 , ) 9,99g
From the equation at equilibrium;
Mass of the calorimeter ( ) 6,16g
2 , 2 ( 2 . )
Determination of Specific Heat of the
= [2 , 2
Calorimeter
( 2 . )]
From the equation at equilibrium;

2 , 2 ( 2 . )
We can obtain the calor absorbed by the
= [2 , 2 metal Cu;

( 2 . )]
= [9,82 4,19


(32 62)]
We can obtain the calor absorbed by the
calorimeter;
[9,99 4,19


= [9,86 4,19 (32 14)]


(30 55)] [6,10 4,32


[9,99 4,19 (32 14)]

(30 15)] = ,

= , And we can calculate the specific heat of the

metal Cu;
And we can calculate the specific heat of the
calorimeter; = ( . )

= ( . )
=
( . )

=
( . ) 6,59
=
0,99 (32 14)
404,65
=
6,10 (30 15) = ,


= , Table 3. Recorded data from the copper

Zinc (Cu Zn)
Table 2. Recorded data from the copper
(Cu) Temperature of water hot (2 , ) 70 C
Temperature of water hot (2 , ) 62 C Temperature of water cold (2 , ) 19C
Temperature of water cold (2 , ) 14C Temperature at equilibrium (2 , ) 34C
Temperature at equilibrium (2 , ) 32C Mass of water hot (2 , ) 9,78g
Mass of water cold (2 , ) 9,94g
Mass of water hot (2 , ) 9,82g
Mass of the copper zinc ( ) 14,44g
Mass of water cold (2 , ) 9,99g
Mass of the copper ( ) 0,99g
 Determination of Specific Heat of the steel
Determination of Specific Heat of the From the equation at equilibrium;
copper zinc
2 , 2 ( 2 . )
From the equation at equilibrium;
= [2 , 2
2 , 2 ( 2 . )
( 2 . )]
= [2 , 2

( 2 . )] We can obtain the calor absorbed by the
metal;
We can obtain the calor absorbed by the
= [9,79 4,19
metal;
(32 68)]
= [9,78 4,19

[9,99 4,19
(34 70)]
(32 15)]
[9,94 4,19

[6,10 4,32
(34 19)]
(32 15)]
[6,10 4,32

= ,
(34 19)]
And we can calculate the specific heat of the
= , metal steel;
And we can calculate the specific heat of the = ( . )
metal CuZn;

= ( . ) =
( . )
317,15
= =
( . ) 14,44 (32 15)
455,21
= = ,
14,44 (34 19)
Table 3. Recorded data from the copper
= ,
(Cu)
Table 2. Recorded data from the steel Temperature of water hot (2 , ) 65 C
Temperature of water hot (2 , ) 68 C Temperature of water cold (2 , ) 14,5C

15C Temperature at equilibrium (2 , ) 31C

Temperature of water cold (2 , )
Mass of water hot (2 , ) 9,80g
Temperature at equilibrium (2 , ) 32C
Mass of water cold (2 , ) 9,99g
Mass of water hot (2 , ) 9,79g
Mass of the copper zinc ( ) 7,42g
Mass of water cold (2 , ) 9,99g
Mass of the copper ( ) 14,44g
Determination of Specific Heat of the
copper
This values have a big error because for the
From the equation at equilibrium; following factors:

2 , 2 ( 2 . ) First, the specific heat of the calorimeter

varies in each experiment due to the
= [2 , 2 environment and the temperatures of the
water in the experiment. For this only in the
( 2 . )]
first experiment the result have a little error
because the temperatures between the
experiments doesnt change, but in the other
We can obtain the calor absorbed by the
the temperatures have big changes.
metal Cu;
Second, the calorimeter was improvised
= [9,80 4,19 from a boat of aluminum and polyethylene,

the aluminum is a metal and it can conduce
(31 65)] the heat and this maybe consider in the
equation of calor for more precision.
[9,99 4,19
Conclusions
(31 14,5)] The calorimetric equation is used to
determine quantities of heat if the mass of
[6,10 4,32
the body, its specific heat and the
temperature difference are known. Even
(31 14,5)]
when it is not possible to determine the total
calorific energy content of a body, the
= ,
quantity that is taken or transferred can be
And we can calculate the specific heat of the measured by putting it in contact with
metal Cu; another at a different temperature. This
amount of energy in transit from bodies of
= ( . ) higher temperature to those of lower
temperature is precisely what is meant by
= heat. In addition, the specific heat of the
( . )
calorimeter and water varies with
270,64 temperature.
=
7,42 (31 14,5)

= ,

Results and Discussion
The results obtained of specific heat form
the experiment are the following.
Table 5. Results and errors
Error [%]
Specific Heat []
= , 5%
= , 88%
= , 64%
= , 82%