A 56.59 g sample of a substance is initially at 20.5 °C. After absorbing 1267 J of heat, the temperature of the substance is 116.5 °C. What is the specific heat (c) of the substance?
To find the specific heat (c) of the substance, we can use the formula:
q = mcΔT
where:
q is the amount of heat absorbed or released by the substance,
m is the mass of the substance,
c is the specific heat of the substance,
ΔT is the change in temperature of the substance.
First, we need to find the change in temperature (ΔT):
ΔT = final temperature - initial temperature
= 116.5 °C - 20.5 °C
= 96 °C
Next, we can substitute the given values into the formula and solve for c:
1267 J = (56.59 g) * c * (96 °C)
To make the units consistent, we need to convert the mass from grams to kilograms:
56.59 g = 0.05659 kg
Now, we can rearrange the formula to solve for c:
c = 1267 J / (0.05659 kg * 96 °C)
Calculating this expression gives us the specific heat of the substance.