I've got the specific heat of a metal for three trials.

t1= .186 j/gdegrees C
t2= .178 j/gdegrees C
t3=.128j/gdegrees C

the mean of the specific heat is .164 j/gdegrees C

we're supposed to find which metal it is from a "CRC" handbook. I've tried and can't find any metal with this specific heat. help.

I don't know what to tell you. Your precision is not good enough for you to have confidence in the average. If you have the time I would see if I could redo the experiment. If you are under duress for time, I would look in two places; i.e., for 0.128 and for the average of the other two or 0.182. USUALLY, the metals are iron, lead, aluminum, etc. We did one years ago where the prof had made his own unknowns by making alloys of lead and other metals so they were not pure. If yours is pure, you should find it in a handbook if your experiment was conducted properly.

To identify the metal with the given specific heat, you can use the CRC Handbook or any reliable resource that lists the specific heat values of various substances. Follow these steps:

1. Check the units: Make sure the units of specific heat in the handbook are compatible with the values you have. In this case, both are given in j/g°C, so no conversion is needed.

2. Look up the specific heat values: Begin by searching for the specific heat values in the handbook. Focus on the metals section since you are looking for a metal.

3. Compare the values: Compare the specific heat values in the handbook with the mean value you calculated. Keep in mind that the values in the handbook may be given in a different format, such as cal/g°C or J/mol°C. In that case, you can convert the mean value to the corresponding units and then compare.

4. Consider the uncertainties: Specific heat values might have some level of uncertainty associated with them. Ensure that your mean value falls within an acceptable range of uncertainty for the metals listed in the handbook.

If you cannot find an exact match for the mean specific heat value of 0.164 j/g°C, it is possible that the metal you are investigating is not included in the handbook you are using. In such cases, it may be helpful to consult additional references or scientific databases to expand your search for specific heat values of metals.