EXPERIMENT NO.

11
SPECIFIC HEAT OF SOLIDS

Objective:
To determine the specific heat of solids by the application of the principle of
calorimetry.

Materials:
Calorimeter Solid metal
Platform balance Set of weights
Two thermometers Burner
Tripod Beaker
Electric stove String
Water

Theory:
Heat is a form of energy associated with the random motion of molecules in a
body. It is a quantity that causes an increase or a decrease in the temperature of the
body when added to or removed from it, provided that the body does not change state
during the process. It is expressed in calorie or in British thermal units. A calorie is
defined as the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water
one degree centigrade. The standard unit of measurement, however, is the joule.

The specific heat of a substance is defined as the quantity of heat required to

raise the temperature of a mass of a body through one degree or it is the heat capacity
per unit mass of the body. The defining equation is given by

heat capacity Q cal

SPECIFIC HEAT ( C )= = =
mass mΔt gm∙℃

The amount of heat (Q) is needed to increase the temperature of a body of mass
(m) by an amount Δt is given by Q=mCΔt=cal

Heat is measured with the use of a container called calorimeter. The specific
heat of substance or a body is determined by the method of heat exchange. The
principle involved is conservation of heat energy. When two bodies of different
temperatures are placed in contact, there is always a flow of heat from the hotter body
to the colder body. The flow of heat continues until thermal equilibrium is reached.
Whatever heat is lost by the hotter body, it is gained or absorbed by the cooler body.

In applying the principle of conservation of heat energy, consider a calorimeter of

mass mc containing water of mass m w both at a temperature t i. into the water is placed a
hot solid metal of mass m m and at temperature tm. If the specific heat of the metal is C m
and the final temperature of the mixture is t mix, we have

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 HEAT LOST =HEAT GAINED

mmCm(tm-tmix) = mwCw(tmix-to) + mcCc(tmix-to)

where
Cw is the specific heat of water
Cc the specific heat of the calorimeter

Procedure:
1. Heat the beaker with half-full of water to boiling point. Weigh the solid metal and
record it. Place it in the beaker and heat it for a few minutes. Measure the
temperature of the metal using another thermometer. If possible, in heating the solid
metal, do not immerse it in boiling water. Suspend it from the bottom of the surface of
the beaker to get accurate results. Refer to Figure 11.1.
2. Weigh the inner calorimeter cup using a platform balance. Then fill it with about half-
full of water and then reweigh. Place the calorimeter cup containing water inside the
outer vessel and cover it. Insert a thermometer through the hole of the cover and
measure the temperature of water. Consider the temperature measured as the initial
temperature of the calorimeter cup and water. Refer to Figure 11.2.
3. When the temperature of the metal is about 95 oC, pour it quickly into the calorimeter
cup containing water and cover it. Do not allow the thermometer to be in contact with
the metal. Stir gently the mixture to have uniform temperature. When the temperature
of water becomes constant, estimate the reading of the thermometer as accurately as
possible and record it as the temperature of the mixture.
4. Calculate the specific heat of the metal using the equation and let this be the
experimental value.

(m ¿ ¿ w C w +m c C c )(t mix −t w ) calorie

C m= = ¿
mm (t m −t mix ) gm ∙ ° C

5. Compare your calculated value of the specific heat with the true value. Determine the
percentage of difference.

Figure 11.1 Water and

solid
Figure 11.2 Calorimeter with
metal heated to boiling the solid metal

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 DATA SHEET AND ANSWER SHEET

NAME________________________________ DATE PERFORMED_________________

COURSE______________________________ YR &SEC_______ GROUP NO.________

EXPERIMENT NO. 11

SPECIFIC HEAT OF SOLIDS

DATA AND RESULTS

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2

Mass of the calorimeter (mc) gm gm

Mass of the water and the calorimeter

gm gm
(mw-c)

Mass of the water (mw) gm gm

Specific heat of the calorimeter (Cc) cal/gm-oC cal/gm-oC

Specific heat of the water (Cw) cal/gm-oC cal/gm-oC

Initial temperature of the water (tw) o

C o
C

Mass of the metal (mm) gm gm

Initial temperature of the metal (tm) o

C o
C

Temperature of the mixture (tmix) o

C o
C

Specific heat of the metal (Cm) (EV) cal/gm-oC cal/gm-oC

Specific heat of the metal (Cm) (TV) cal/gm-oC cal/gm-oC

Percentage difference of specific heat of

% %
the metal

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COMPUTATION:

ANALYSIS:

1. Differentiate heat and temperature.

2. Find the quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of 250 grams of copper
from 20oC to 100oC.

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3. An aluminum calorimeter has a mass of 50 grams and contains 200 grams of water
at 20oC. Find the temperature of the mixture resulting when a mass of 500 grams of
lead at 95oC is placed in the water.

4. A copper calorimeter whose mass is 120 grams, contains 350 grams of water at
20oC. Into this are placed 200 grams of aluminum at 70 oC and 150 grams of lead at
90oC. Find the final temperature of the mixture.

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5. .5 kg of water at 60.0 oC is added to 2.25 kg of water at 5.00 oC. what is the final
temperature of the mixture?

OBSERVATION

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CONCLUSION

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