Specific Heat Capacity Lab

Adapted from ChemCom by Dr. G. Maynes

Introduction: In our study of the heat produced by exothermic reactions, we determined

the molar heat of combustion of several fuels. To do this we used calorimetry, and made
use of the relationship

q = Cp * m * ΔT

and the “given” that the specific heat capacity, Cp, for water is 4.18 j/oCg. In this lab we
will again use calorimetry, and by comparing the impact of a specific exchange of heat on
the ΔT of water and an ”unknown” metal sample, we will attempt to identify the metal.
Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram
of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Safety: goggles and closed-toe shoes; be careful of hot liquids and metals.

Procedure:

1) Determine an accurate mass for your sample of metal. Note the observable
physical properties of the metal.

2) Gently put your metal sample into ~ 250 mL of water in a 400 or 600 mL beaker, and
heat this to boiling on a hot plate. Monitor the water temperature with a glass
thermometer.

3) Assemble a calorimeter from a double Styrofoam cup with a cardboard cover; insert
the metal stem of a digital thermometer into the cover. (See diagram next page).
Weigh the cups.

4) Put ~ 100 mL of cold tap water into the calorimeter, and allow the temperature to
settle. Record the temperature and the exact mass (that is, weigh it) of the water.

5) Wait until the water in the beaker has been boiling at a stable temperature for 5
minutes. Grasp the metal sample firmly with your crucible tongs, and quickly transfer
it to the calorimeter, put the top with the digital thermometer back in place, and begin
observing the temperature of the water in the calorimeter.

6) Record the temperature of the water in the calorimeter every 30 seconds until you have
recorded the same value 4 times in a row, or until the temperature starts to fall.
 Make this your
digital
thermometer,
not a glass one

Calculations:

1) Determine the heat absorbed by the water in the calorimeter q = Cp*m*ΔT

2) Using the same formula, plug in the value for q to what you calculated above. Use
the mass of the metal and the ΔT for the metal so that the Cp for the metal is the
only unknown, and solve for Cp..

3) Using the data in the table on the next page, your observations of the physical
characteristics of the metal and your common sense, identify the metal.
Material Specific heat, Cp
Aluminum 0.895
Brass 0.380
Copper 0.387
Gold 0.129
Iron 0.448
Lead 0.128
Silver 0.233
Stainless Steel 0.51
Zinc 0.386
Granite 0.803
Air 1.00
Water 4.18

Questions:

1) What is your metal? Why do you say so?

2) What do you see as sources of error? Be thorough.

3) Closely related to sources of error, what assumptions did you have to make for your
experiment to work?

4) Why did we put your metal in boiling water? Exactly why – not “to get it hot”. Why
not heat it some other way?

5) Why did we have separate thermometers? Why not just move the thermometer from
the heating bath to your calorimeter? (Think of two good reasons).

5) Would you use determination of Cp as a way to identify a metal? Why or why not?

6) On a sunny day, beach sand gets very hot, a grassy area is comfortable, and the water
is cool. Using the data above and what you have learned in this lab, along with your
common sense, explain why.