A 4.0 g sample of iron was heated from 0°C to 20°C. It absorbed 35.2 J of energy as heat. What is the specific heat of this piece of iron?

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Answer 1 · 2016-06-27T22:25:15

The specific heat capacity of the iron is #"0.44 J·°C"^"-1""g"^"-1"#.

The formula for the heat absorbed by a substance is

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

where

#q# is the quantity of heat

#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)#

#ΔT = "(20 - 0) °C" = "20 °C"#

#c = "35.2 J"/"4.0 g × 20 °C" = "0.44 J·°C"^"-1""g"^"-1"#