A chemist carefully measures the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a 341.0 mg sample of a pure substance from 8.4 ℃
to 21.5 ℃. The experiment shows that 4.03 J of heat are needed.

- What can the chemist report for the specific heat capacity of the substance?

The specific heat of substance is 0.90 j/g.°C.

Explanation:

Given data:

Mass of sample = 341.0 mg (341.0/1000 = 0.341 g)

Initial temperature = 8.4 °C

Final temperature = 21.5 °C

Heat needed = 4.03 J

Specific heat capacity of substance = ?

Solution:

Specific heat capacity:

It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of substance by one degree.

Formula:

Q = m.c. ΔT

Q = amount of heat absorbed or released

m = mass of given substance

c = specific heat capacity of substance

ΔT = change in temperature

ΔT = T2 - T1

ΔT = 21.5 °C - 8.4 °C

ΔT = 13.1 °C

4.03 J = 0.341 g × c ×13.1 °C

4.03 J = 4.4671 g.°C  × c

c = 4.03 J  /4.4671 g.°C

c= 0.90 j/g.°C

The specific heat of substance is 0.90 j/g.°C.