Lab: Specific Heat

Objectives:

·  Determine the specific heat of the a metal.

·  Calculate percent error of experimental results

Background:

All substance exhibit certain physical properties such as color, density, hardness and specific heat. In this experiment the specific heat of a metal will be determined and compared to that of the accepted value. Specific heat is defined as; that amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 gram of the given substance 1 degree Celsius. The common sense definition is that specific heat is a measure of how easy it is to change the temperature of the substance. It is easy to change the temperature of metal, it is harder to change the temperature of plastic or wood. This is why you use a wooden spoon and not a metal to stir a pot of soup. Another example is that your pots and pans normally have a plastic handle and not a metal handle. You will need the following equation.

Procedure:

  1. Your observations are the most important aspect of this lab. Remember to be as descriptive as possible and highly organized. Record all observations, identifying each observation as to what reactants were allowed to react.
  2. Set up your calorimeter as shown by the instructor.
  3. Mass the calorimeter.
  4. Fill your calorimeter with enough water to cover your piece of metal, with full of room temperature water.
  5. Remass the calorimeter.
  6. Insert a thermometer and take a reading after 2 minutes.
  7. Take a reading on the hot storage thermometer.
  8. Add piece of hot metal to your calorimeter. Ensure the metal is completely immersed. Swirl the water in the cup to even out temperature differences.
  9. Observe the thermometer, the temperature should be rising, when the temperature has stopped rising the metal and the water are at equilibrium, take this temperature reading.
  10. Remove the metal, dry it thoroughly, and mass it.
  11. Place the metal back in the hot storage for 10 minutes, repeat the procedure starting with step 4.
  12. Once the procedure has been accomplished 3 times, clean up.

Pre-Lab:

  1. What is the equation for specific heat?
  1. Name each of the variables and their units?
  1. How much heat was absorbed by a piece of glass if the glass has a mass of 600 grams and its temperature changes from 25° to 53°C? (look up the specific heat of glass)