Unit 6

Thermodynamics

6.4 Heat Capacity and

Calorimetry
Topic 6.4 - Heat Capacity and Calorimetry
● Learning Objective: Calculate the heat q absorbed or released by a
system undergoing heating/ cooling based on the amount of the
substance, the heat capacity, and the change in temperature.
● Essential Knowledge:
○ The heating of a cool body by a warmer body is an important form of
energy transfer between two systems. The amount of heat
transferred between two bodies may be quantified by the heat
transfer equation:

EQN: q = mcΔT

Calorimetry experiments are used to measure the transfer of heat

2
● Essential Knowledge (cont.)
○ The first law of thermodynamics states that energy is conserved in
chemical and physical processes.
○ The transfer of a given amount of thermal energy will not produce the
same temperature change in equal masses of matter with differing
specific heat capacities.
○ Heating a system increases the energy of the system, while cooling a
system decreases the energy of the system.
○ The specific heat capacity of a substance and the molar heat capacity are
both used in energy calculations.
○ Chemical systems change their energy through three main processes:
heating/cooling, phase transitions, and chemical reactions.
3
 Calorimetry The instrument used to measure heat flow is called a
calorimeter

● The process of measuring the heat released

from or absorbed by a substance
● For a simple “coffee cup calorimeter”, a coffee
cup is filled with a solvent (generally water)
and a substance is placed into the solvent.
○ The heat released from or absorbed by the
object can then be measured using the
temperature change of the water.
○ A lid is added to prevent heat exchange
between the system and surroundings and
a stirrer is used to keep the temperature
even throughout the solvent.
© 2018 Pearson Education,
Inc.
Since we can’t know the exact enthalpy of the 4
reactants and products, we measure ΔH through
Calorimetry
▫ Calorimeters are designed to
be an isolated system
▫ Energy transfers from sample
to water
▫ Amount of energy the water
gains can be measured
▫ Reactions can be carried out
in a sealed “bomb” such as
this one

© 2018 Pearson Education,

Inc.

5
 Heat Capacity and Specific Heat
▫ The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a
substance by 1 K (1 degree Celsius) is its heat capacity
▫ If the amount of the substance heated is one gram, it is the
specific heat
▫ If the amount is one mole, it is the molar heat capacity

Note that Q is just amount of energy so no need to

put a sign. Q=mcat
We only put sign (+/-) for ΔHrxn

6
Some Terminology
● The First Law of Thermodynamics (aka The Law of Conservation of
Energy): energy is conserved in chemical and physical processes.
● Heat: the transfer of energy that results from the difference in temperature
between two objects
● Specific Heat: the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of
one gram of a substance by 1oC (1K)
○ Each substance has its own unique specific heat value
○ The larger the value of specific heat, the more energy that
object can release or absorb before its temperature changes.
○ Water has a relatively large specific heat value while values for metals
are generally small.
● For objects with different values of specific heat (c), the transfer of a given
amount of thermal energy will not produce the same temperature change in
equal masses of matter.
Heat Capacity and Specific Heat

8
 Heat Capacity and Specific Heat
▫ By carrying out a reaction in aqueous solution in a simple calorimeter, the
heat change for the system can be found by measuring the heat change
for the water in the calorimeter
▫ The specific heat for water is 4.184 J/g℃
▫ We can calculate ΔH for the reaction using the equation

q = mcΔT
q = heat (measured in J or kJ)
m = mass (measured in g)
c = specific heat (generally measured in J/g oC)
ΔT = temperature change (Tf - Ti) (generally measured in
9
o
C)
 Energy Units
▫ Using the specific heat for water we can define a calorie
▫ 4.184 Joules = 1 calorie
▫ Food has a LOT of calories so we don’t report food in calories
instead we report it in kilocalories (kcal)
▫ 1000 calories = 1 kilocalorie
▫ 1 kilocalorie = 1 Calorie
▫ 1000 calories = 1 Calorie

10
 Chemical Systems
▫ Heating a system results in the system gaining energy
▫ Energy enters the system
▫ Cooling a system results in the system having less energy
▫ Energy leaves the system
▫ Chemical systems change energy through 3 main ways
▫ Heating and cooling
▫ Phase changes
▫ Chemical Reactions
▫ If there is a change in temperature then we can use q=mcΔT

11
Practice Problem #1
For an experiment, 50.0g of H2O was added to a
coffee-cup calorimeter, as shown in the diagram
above. The initial temperature of the H2O was
22.0°C, and it absorbed 300.J of heat from an
object that was carefully placed inside the
calorimeter. Assuming no heat is transferred to
the surroundings, which of the following was the
approximate temperature of the H2O after
thermal equilibrium was reached? Assume that
the specific heat capacity of H2O is 4.2 J/(g⋅K).

A) 21.3°C
B) 22.0°C
C) 22.7°C
D) 23.4°C

12
Practice Problem #1
For an experiment, 50.0g of H2O was added to a
coffee-cup calorimeter, as shown in the diagram
above. The initial temperature of the H2O was
22.0°C, and it absorbed 300.J of heat from an
object that was carefully placed inside the
calorimeter. Assuming no heat is transferred to
the surroundings, which of the following was the
approximate temperature of the H2O after
thermal equilibrium was reached? Assume that
the specific heat capacity of H2O is 4.2 J/(g⋅K).

A) 21.3°C
B) 22.0°C
C) 22.7°C
D) 23.4°C

13
Q=mc delta t delta t=(t final - t initial)

(300 J)= (50.0 g) x( 4.2 J/(g⋅K) x (t final -22.0)

(300 J)= 210 (t final -22.0) or: 300 J = 210 T final - 4620

(t final -22.0)= 300/210 = 1.4 300 + 4620= 210 T final

t final= 1.4 + 22 4920= 210 T final

14
t final= 23.4 C T final= 4920/210= 23.4 C
Practice Problem #2 Mass of water 50.003 g

Temperature of 24.95 ℃
In an experiment to determine the specific heat of a water
metal, a student transferred a sample of the metal
Specific heat for 4.184 J/g℃
that was heated in boiling water into room- water
temperature water in an insulated cup. The student
recorded the temperature of the water after thermal Mass of metal 63.546 g
equilibrium was reached. The data are shown in the
table above. Based on the data, what is the Temperature of 99.95 ℃
calculated heat q absorbed by the water reported metal
with the appropriate A) 1600 Jof significant figures?
number Specific heat of ?
B) 1640 J
metal
C) 1642 J
D) 1642.3 J Final temperature 32.80 ℃

15
Practice Problem #2 Mass of water 50.003 g

Temperature of 24.95 ℃
In an experiment to determine the specific heat of a water
metal, a student transferred a sample of the metal
Specific heat for 4.184 J/g℃
that was heated in boiling water into room- water
temperature water in an insulated cup. The student
recorded the temperature of the water after thermal Mass of metal 63.546 g
equilibrium was reached. The data are shown in the
table above. Based on the data, what is the Temperature of 99.95 ℃
calculated heat q absorbed by the water reported metal
with the appropriate A) 1600 Jof significant figures?
number Specific heat of ?
B) 1640 J
metal
C) 1642 J
D) 1642.3 J Final temperature 32.80 ℃

16
Q lost by the metal will be gained by the water.

-Q metal (lost)= +Q water (gained)

q= mc delta t (water)

q= (50.003 g) x (4.184 J/g℃) x (32.80-24.95 C)

q= 1642 J

17
Practice Problem #3
A student mixes 50 mL of 1.0M HCl and 50 mL
of 1.0M NaOH in a coffee-cup calorimeter and
observes the change in temperature until the
mixture reaches thermal equilibrium. The initial
and final temperatures (°C) of the mixture are
shown in the diagram above of the laboratory
setup.

Based on the results, what is the change in

temperature reported with the correct number
of significant figures? A) 5.5 ℃
B) 5.50 ℃
C) 5.800 ℃
D) 6 ℃

18
Practice Problem #3
A student mixes 50mL of 1.0M HCl and 50mL of
1.0M NaOH in a coffee-cup calorimeter and
observes the change in temperature until the
mixture reaches thermal equilibrium. The initial
and final temperatures (°C) of the mixture are
shown in the diagram above of the laboratory
setup.

Based on the results, what is the change in

temperature reported with the correct number
of significant figures? A) 5.5 ℃
B) 5.50 ℃
C) 5.800 ℃
D) 6 ℃

19
20
H & C relationship

If equal masses were used, which metal can absorb the most heat before
the temperature would increase by 1 C? Metal Heat
Capacity
J/g Co

Al 0.897

Fe 0.412

Pb 0.129

Cd 0.231

21
Heat & Specific Heat relationship
If equal masses were used, which metal can absorb the most heat before the
temperature would increase by 1 C?
Metal Heat
Al can absorb the most heat because Al has the highest Capacity

heat capacity, a higher heat capacity indicated by the ability to

J/g Co

absorb more heat before the temperature increases. Al 0.897

q=mcΔT Fe 0.412

Because mass and ΔT are both constant, then as q increases, Pb 0.129

c also increases. (q heat added is directly proportional to specific

Cd 0.231

heat)

Heat and specific heat are both heat so directly proportional 22

ΔT, Heat Capacity relationship
A 10. g cube of copper at a temperature
T1 is placed in an insulated cup
containing 10. g of water at a A. The temperature of the copper
temperature T2. If T1 > T2, which of the changed more than the temperature of
following is true of the system when it the water.
has attained thermal equilibrium? B. The temperature of the water
(The specific heat of copper is 0.385 changed more than the temperature of
J/(g·°C) and the specific heat of water is
the copper.
4.18 J/(g·°C).)
.
C. The temperature of the water and the
copper changed by the same amount.
D. The relative temperature changes of
the copper and the water cannot be
determined without knowing T1 and T2

23
ΔT, Heat Capacity relationship
A. The temperature of the copper
A 10. g cube of copper at a temperature T1 is placed in an insulated cup
containing 10. g of water at a temperature T2. If T1 > T2, which of the following is changed more than the temperature of
true of the system when it has attained thermal equilibrium?
(The specific heat of copper is 0.385 J/(g·°C) and the specific heat of water is 4.18 the water.
J/(g·°C).)
.

B. The temperature of the water

q=mc ΔT

(mass is constant in both Cu and water) changed more than the temperature of
(q heat added is the same amount lost =to amount gained) so, q=mc
Manipulate the formula, ΔT= q so ΔT= 1
ΔT
the copper.
m.c c C. The temperature of the water and the
copper changed by the same amount.
D. The relative temperature changes of
the copper and the water cannot be
determined without knowing T1 and T2
Cu has lower specific heat, thus Cu changes
temp more, so changing temp and specific heat
have inverse relationship.
Same as sand and water, sand has lower specific
heat (0.67) so sand on the beach changes
temperature more than water does.
24
Mass and Heat and ΔT Relationship
Doubling mass will provide a greater number of moles of reaction, which
would transfer a greater quantity of thermal energy and therefore lead
to greater maximum temperature.

25
Final Temperature Calculation
In an insulated cup of negligible heat capacity, 50. g of
water at 40.°C is mixed with 30. g of water at 20. °C.
The final temperature of the mixture is closest to

A. 22 °C
B. 27 °C
C. 30 °C
D. 33 °C
E. 38 °C

26
Final Temperature Calculation
A. 22 °C
B. 27 °C In an insulated cup of
C. 30 °C negligible heat capacity, 50. g
D. 33 °C of water at 40.°C is mixed with
E. 38 °C 30. g of water at 20. °C.
(-) Q (water lost) = (+) Q (water gain) The final temperature of the
(-) mcΔT = (+) mcΔT mixture is closest to
- (50 g) (c) (tf -40)= (+) (30g) (c) (tf-
20)
-50tf + 2000 = 30tf -600
-50tf + 30tf = -600-2000
-80tf = -2600
tf = 32.5 =33 °C 27
[Link]
K5v4

[Link]
QM

[Link]
fk

28