Specific Heat Lab
Name_____________Period __
Purpose: To determine the specific heats of unknown metals and then
determine what metal it is.
Pre-lab examples and calculations: The specific heat of the metal block can
be calculated. The heat the block releases to the water and the heat the water
gains is given by the equation:
q=∆H=mcp∆T
where:
q = heat lost in joules
cp = specific heat
m = mass in grams
∆T = the change in temperature
Data:
Plug the values into the equation given in the pre-lab and find the specific heat.
Sample #1
Sample #2
Sample #3
Sample #4
Color of metal
sample
1 Mass of metal sample
2
Mass of cup
3
Mass of cup + water
4
Mass of water in cup
(3-1)
Temperature of
boiling water (metal
initial temp)
Temperature of water
in cup
Final temperature in
the cup
∆T(water)
By setting the equations equal to one another we get this equation:
5
cp(metal) = m(water)cp(water) ∆T(water)
m(metal) ∆T(metal)
6
Procedure:
1. On a ring stand with wire mesh and ring, place a 250 mL beaker
about ½ full of distilled water.
2. Mass each of the metal samples and record.
3. Add 4 metal samples to be tested to the beaker with distilled water.
4. Heat till boiling, continue to keep heating.
5. Obtain a Styrofoam cup.
6. Measure the mass of the Styrofoam cup, and record.
7. Measure 100.0 mL of distilled water into the Styrofoam cup.
8. Measure the mass of the water and cup together if scale will
allow.
9. Find the mass of the water in the cup by subtracting the cup and
water mass and the cup mass.
10. Set up CBL and TI with 2 temperature probes.
11. Take the temperature of the boiling water with one probe.
12. Record the temperature. This is the initial temperature of the metal.
13. Take the probe out of the boiling water and set it aside!
14. Take the other temperature probe and place it in the Styrofoam
cup.
15. Record the temperature. This is the initial temperature of the
water.
16. Using tongs Quickly transfer one of the metal samples into the
Styrofoam cup. Try hard not to bring any boiling water with it.
17. Watch the temperature on the probe. When the highest
temperature has been reached. Record that temperature. This is
the final temperature for the water and the metal.
7
8
(7-6)
9
10
∆T(metal)
(5-7)
Specific heat of water
(same on all)
Analysis:
1. Complete the table.
Sample #1
Specific Heat
of metal
sample
Identity of
metal sample
Literature
value of metal
Cp
% error for
each
experimental cp
value
Sample #2
Sample #3
Sample #4
Conclusion: What did you learn? What could have been done to reduce the error?