Experiment 4: Specific Heat of Metals

Laboratory Report

Aljo Acero, Mary Angelie Ante, Trisha Arciga, Patrick Baldeo, Philline Bergania

Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas

Espana, Manila Philippines

Abstract known as the caloric. Bodies were

Specific heat capacity is the
measurable physical quantity that
characterizes the amount of heat
required to change the substances
temperature by a given amount. In
this experiment, we determined the
specific heat of the metal through
the use of a calorimeter and
heating instruments. The metal
was first subjected to heating until
it reached 80 degrees Celsius.
Then, it was immersed in a
calorimeter with a known mass and
a low initial temperature. The
specific heat was then determined
by calculating the change in
temperature between the initial
temperature of the calorimeter and
the temperature after immersing
the heated metal in the
calorimeter.
Introduction
In a previous theory of heat
common in the early modern
period, heat was thought to be a
measurement of an invisible fluid,
capable of holding a certain
amount of this fluid, hence the
term heat capacity, named and
first investigated by Scottish
chemist Joseph Black in the 1750s.
Since the development of
thermodynamics in the 18th and
19th centuries, scientists have
abandoned the idea of a physical
caloric, and instead understand
heat as a manifestation of a
system's internal energy. Heat is no
longer considered a fluid, but
rather a transfer of disordered
energy. Nevertheless, at least in
English, the term "heat capacity"
survives. In some other languages,
the term thermal capacity is
preferred, and it is also sometimes
used in English.
The specific heat is the
amount of heat per unit mass
required to raise the temperature
by one degree Celsius. The
relationship between heat and
temperature change is usually
expressed in the form shown below
where c is the specific heat.
The relationship does not
apply if a phase change is
encountered, because the heat
added or removed during a phase
change does not change the
temperature.
The specific heat of water is
1 calorie/gram C = 4.186
joule/gram C which is higher than
any other common substance. As a
result, water plays a very important
role in temperature regulation. The
specific heat per gram for water is
much higher than that for a metal,
as described in the water-metal
example. For most purposes, it is
more meaningful to compare the
molar specific heats of substances.
The molar specific heats of
most solids at room temperature
and above are nearly constant, in
agreement with the Law of Dulong
and Petit. At lower temperatures
the specific heats drop as quantum
processes become significant. The
low temperature behavior is
described by the Einstein-Debye
model of specific heat.
Calorimetry is the science
associated with determining the
changes in energy of a system by
measuring the heat exchanged
with the surroundings. In this
experiment, we made use of an
instrument called calorimeter. A
calorimeter is an instrument used
for measuring the quantity of heat
absorbed or released by matter
when it undergoes a chemical
reaction or physical change.
Historically, such precision
measurements have helped open a
window onto the molecular and
atomic structure of matter because
the movement of molecules and
atoms in matter collectively carries
a quantity of heat energy that is
distinctive for each type of matter
and its chemical reactions. Based
on such calorimetric
measurements, scientists have
developed tables giving the heat
capacities of substances. Data
produced by calorimeters has been
foundational to the development of
such technologies as steam boilers,
turbines, rocket engines, internal
combustion engines, oil refineries,
and plastic product factories.
The objective of this
experiment was to properly
manipulate the calorimeter in order
to determine the specific gravity of
the metal that should have a
percentage error lower than 10%.
Theory
Methodology
The materials used in this
experiment were a metal cube, a
calorimeter, a triple beam balance and
a thermometer. The cube and
calorimeter were weighed first. The
calorimeter was then filled with water
then the mass of the water was
calculated. The initial temperature of
the cube and calorimeter (outer shell
and insulating ring excluded) were calorimeter and the heat lost by the
recorded. Then the cube was heated metal were also calculated. Lastly, the
using the water bath. After heating the specific heat of the metal was
cube it was introduced immediately to calculated.
the calorimeter. The thermometer was
then placed inside to get the
temperature of the final system. The
changes in temperature of the metal
and the system were recorded. The
heat gained by the water and
Table 1 Metal Calorimeter Water Calorimeter
and Water
Mass 41.20 g 43.00 g 134.00 g 177.00 g
Specific Heat 0.215 cal/gC 1 cal/gC
Initial 80.3C 19. 8C
Temperature
Final 23.6C
Temperature of
the System
Temperature -56.7C 3.8C
Change
Heat Gained -502.249 cal 35.131 cal 504.20 cal
Specific Heat
Experimental 0.234 cal/gC
Standard 0.215 cal/gC
Absolute Error 0.019 cal/gC
Percentage 8.84%
Error
Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Application

References

Specific Heat. Retrieved from: http://hyperphysics.phy-

astr.gsu.edu/hbase/thermo/spht.html

Calorimeter. Retrieved from:

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Calorimeter

Heat transfer, and the first law of thermodynamics.

http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/py105/notes/Heattransfer.html