Question #eee3a

1 Answer
May 17, 2017

The substance is most likely iron.

Explanation:

It looks as if we should calculate the specific heat capacity of the substance.

The formula for the amount heat #q# absorbed by a substance is

#color(blue)(bar(ul(|color(white)(a/a)q = mCΔTcolor(white)(a/a)|)))" "#

where

#m# is the mass of the substance
#C# is the specific heat capacity of the material
#ΔT# is the temperature change

You can rearrange the formula to calculate the specific heat capacity:

#C = q/(mΔT)#

In this problem,

#q = 1.539 × 10^2color(white)(l) "J"#
#m = "17.1 g"#
#ΔT = "(45.0 - 25.0) °C" = "20.0 °C"#

#C = (1.539 × 10^2color(white)(l) "J")/"17.1 g × 20.0 °C" = "0.450 J·°C"^"-1""g"^"-1"#

The Engineering Toolbox lists the following specific heat capacities of metals:

#"Cr = 0.46 kJ/(K·kg)"#
#"Fe = 0.45 kJ/(K·kg)"#
#"Ni = 0.44 kJ/(K·kg)"#

I will go for the one in the middle and say that the substance is most likely iron.