A laboratory technician drops a 0.0850 kg sample of unknown solid material, at a temperature of 100 oC, into a calorimeter. The calorimeter can, initially at 19.0 oC, is made of 0.150 kg of copper and contains 0.20 kg of water. The final temperature of the calorimeter can, and contents is 26.1 oC. Compute the specific heat of the sample.

The specific heat of the sample

Explanation:

Given that:

mass of an unknown sample = 0.0850

temperature of the unknown sample = 100° C

initial temperature of the calorimeter can = 19° C

mass of copper = 0.150 kg

mass of water = 0.20 kg

the final temperature of the calorimeter can = 26.1° C

The objective is to compute the specific heat of the sample.

By applying the principle of conservation of energy

where;

i.e

the specific heat capacities of water and copper are 4.18 × 10³ J/kg.K and 0.39 × 10³ J/kg.K respectively

the specific heat of the sample can be computed by making  the subject of the above formula:

i.e

The specific heat of the sample

plasma is the state of matter where the substance is ionized and has no definite shape or volume. the fact of being ionized makes the substance a good electrical conductor.