Reference Table of Common Metals and Their Specific Heat Capacities

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 15 views

Introduction

In this experiment, we will be using the concept of specific heat capacity to determine the identity of an unknown metal sample. The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of the substance by one degree Celsius. This property is essential in understanding how different materials respond to changes in temperature.

Theoretical Background

The specific heat capacity of a substance can be calculated using the following formula:

Q = mc\Delta T

Where:

$Q$ is the amount of heat energy absorbed by the substance
$m$ is the mass of the substance
$c$ is the specific heat capacity of the substance
$\Delta T$ is the change in temperature

Experimental Procedure

In this experiment, we are given a 100.0 g sample of an unknown metal that is heated from $$25^{\circ} C$$ to $$50^{\circ} C$$. During this process, the metal sample absorbs 575 J of thermal energy. We will use the reference table of common metals and their specific heat capacities to determine the identity of the unknown metal.

Data Analysis

To determine the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal, we can rearrange the formula to solve for $c$ :

c = \frac{Q}{m\Delta T}

Substituting the given values, we get:

c = \frac{575 \text{ J}}{(100.0 \text{ g})(25^{\circ} C)}

Simplifying the expression, we get:

c = \frac{575 \text{ J}}{2500 \text{ g}^{\circ} C}

c = 0.23 \text{ J/g}^{\circ} C

Reference Table of Common Metals and Their Specific Heat Capacities

Metal	Specific Heat Capacity (J/g $^{\circ}$ C)
Aluminum	0.91
Copper	0.39
Gold	0.13
Iron	0.45
Lead	0.13
Silver	0.235
Tin	0.26
Zinc	0.39

Determination of the Unknown Metal

Comparing the calculated specific heat capacity of the unknown metal (0.23 J/g $^{\circ}$ C) with the reference table, we can see that it is closest to the specific heat capacity of silver (0.235 J/g $^{\circ}$ C). Therefore, we can conclude that the unknown metal is likely to be silver.

Conclusion

In this experiment, we used the concept of specific heat capacity to determine the identity of an unknown metal sample. By calculating the specific heat capacity of the sample and comparing it with the reference table of common metals and their specific heat capacities, we were able to conclude that the unknown metal is likely to be silver.

Limitations of the Experiment

One limitation of this experiment is that the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal was calculated using a single data point. To increase the accuracy of the result, it would be better to perform multiple measurements and calculate the average specific heat capacity.

Future Directions

In the future, we can use this experiment as a starting point to investigate the specific heat capacities of other metals and alloys. We can also use this experiment to develop a more accurate method for determining the identity of unknown metals.

References

[1] CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition
[2] Wikipedia: Specific heat capacity
[3] HyperPhysics: Specific heat capacity

Appendix

Calculation of the Specific Heat Capacity

The specific heat capacity of the unknown metal was calculated using the following formula:

c = \frac{Q}{m\Delta T}

Where:

$Q$ is the amount of heat energy absorbed by the substance
$m$ is the mass of the substance
$\Delta T$ is the change in temperature

Substituting the given values, we get:

c = \frac{575 \text{ J}}{(100.0 \text{ g})(25^{\circ} C)}

Simplifying the expression, we get:

c = \frac{575 \text{ J}}{2500 \text{ g}^{\circ} C}

c = 0.23 \text{ J/g}^{\circ} C

Table of Specific Heat Capacities of Common Metals

Metal	Specific Heat Capacity (J/g $^{\circ}$ C)
Aluminum	0.91
Copper	0.39
Gold	0.13
Iron	0.45
Lead	0.13
Silver	0.235
Tin	0.26
Zinc	0.39

Graph of Specific Heat Capacities of Common Metals

[Insert graph here]

Q&A: Determining the Identity of an Unknown Metal

Q: What is the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal?

A: The specific heat capacity of the unknown metal is 0.23 J/g $^{\circ}$ C.

Q: How was the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal calculated?

A: The specific heat capacity of the unknown metal was calculated using the formula:

c = \frac{Q}{m\Delta T}

Where:

$Q$ is the amount of heat energy absorbed by the substance
$m$ is the mass of the substance
$\Delta T$ is the change in temperature

Q: What is the reference table of common metals and their specific heat capacities?

A: The reference table of common metals and their specific heat capacities is a list of metals and their corresponding specific heat capacities. The table is used to compare the calculated specific heat capacity of the unknown metal with the specific heat capacities of known metals.

Q: Which metal is the unknown metal likely to be?

A: Based on the calculated specific heat capacity of the unknown metal (0.23 J/g $^{\circ}$ C), it is likely to be silver.

Q: What are the limitations of this experiment?

A: One limitation of this experiment is that the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal was calculated using a single data point. To increase the accuracy of the result, it would be better to perform multiple measurements and calculate the average specific heat capacity.

Q: What are the future directions of this experiment?

A: In the future, we can use this experiment as a starting point to investigate the specific heat capacities of other metals and alloys. We can also use this experiment to develop a more accurate method for determining the identity of unknown metals.

Q: What are the references used in this experiment?

A: The references used in this experiment are:

[1] CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition
[2] Wikipedia: Specific heat capacity
[3] HyperPhysics: Specific heat capacity

Q: What is the appendix of this experiment?

A: The appendix of this experiment includes the calculation of the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal and a table of specific heat capacities of common metals.

Q: What is the table of specific heat capacities of common metals?

A: The table of specific heat capacities of common metals is a list of metals and their corresponding specific heat capacities.

Q: What is the graph of specific heat capacities of common metals?

A: The graph of specific heat capacities of common metals is a visual representation of the specific heat capacities of common metals.

Q: What is the conclusion of this experiment?

A: The conclusion of this experiment is that the unknown metal is likely to be silver based on the calculated specific heat capacity of the unknown metal.

Q: What are the implications of this experiment?

A: The implications of this experiment are that it can be used as a starting point to investigate the specific heat capacities of other metals and alloys, and to develop a more accurate method for determining the identity of unknown metals.

Q: What are the future applications of this experiment?

A: The future applications of this experiment are in the fields of materials science, engineering, and chemistry, where the specific heat capacities of metals and alloys are crucial in understanding their properties and behavior.