Ben Papworth – 20008905 20/02/11
Technology Foundation
Measurement of the Specific Heat Capacity of a Metal Specimen
Lab Report
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to measure the specific heat capacity (Cps) of a
metal sample using a calorimeter.
Specific heat capacity is the name given to the amount of heat energy that is required
to heat one kilogram of a material by 1ºC or 1K. It is a physical property that varies
from one material to another.
Background
To do this experiment a calorimeter is required. A calorimeter is a device used
for calorimetry, the science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical
changes as well as heat capacity. It is an insulated container. If a hot specimen is
placed into cooler water inside a calorimeter, the temperature of the specimen will
fall, while the temperature of the water will rise as heat energy is transferred from one
to the other. If there are no heat losses from the calorimeter, the temperature of the
system will reach equilibrium, i.e. the temperature of the specimen, water and
calorimeter will be the same.
If heat losses from the calorimeter are small, this heat transfer can be expressed as:
Heat energy lost by the specimen = Heat energy gained by the water
Or,
msCps(T initial specimen – T final specimen) = mwCpw (T final water – T initial water) ….(1)
where
ms = mass of specimen (Kg)
mc = mass of calorimeter (Kg)
mw = mass of water in the calorimeter (Kg)
T initial specimen = initial temperature of the specimen °C
T final specimen = final temperature of the specimen °C
T initial water = initial temperature of the water °C
T final water = final temperature of the water °C
And equation (1) becomes msCpsΔTs - mwCpwΔTw ……………………………(2)
Where ΔTs = (T initial specimen – T final specimen)
And ΔTw = (T final water – T initial water)
Equation (2) had to be re-arranged to solve for Cps. It became;
The specific heat capacity of water (Cpw) = 4.187kJ/kg K
Experimental Setup and Procedure
To complete this experiment the following apparatus was used:
• Heat plate
• Digital thermometer
• Lead sample
• Copper sample
• Aluminium sample
• Calorimeter
• Wire hook
• Glass beaker
• Weighing scales
The mass (kg) of each specimen (ms) was taken first. They were as follows;
Lead - 0.1052
Copper - 0.0842
Aluminium - 0.0306
The temperature of the room was then taken. It was 22.7°C
The mass of the empty calorimeter (mc) was then taken. It was 0.4128kg
The three samples were then placed into a water filled beaker on the heat plate, and
left until the water was boiling
After acquiring these values, the experiment to find the Cps of the three metal samples
could now begin.
Method for Finding the Cps for Lead
The calorimeter was first filled approximately half full with water, and its mass was
then found using the weighing scales. We then subtracted its empty mass (mc) from
this value to find the mass of the water inside (mw).
The water’s mass was 0.0862kg
The initial temperature of the water inside the calorimeter was then measured. It was
20.5°C
After heating the lead specimen in the water, we measured its final temperature. It
was 97.7°C
The wire hook was then used to quickly and carefully remove the sample from the
boiling water and place it into the calorimeter. The water in the calorimeter was then
stirred whilst the thermometer was inserted into the calorimeter to measure the final
temperature of the water, after it had stabilised to a steady maximum.
The final temperature of the water was 23.3°C.
After doing this equation (2) could then be used to calculate the Cps for the lead
specimen.
The above procedure was then followed for the remaining two specimens; copper and
aluminium.
Copper
Mass of water in the calorimeter (mw) – 0.0829 kg
Initial temperature of water inside the calorimeter - 20.7°C
Final Temperature of Specimen - 98°C
Final Temperature of water – 25.8°C
Aluminium
Mass of water in the calorimeter (mw) – 0.0888 kg
Initial temperature of water inside the calorimeter - 20.9°C
Final Temperature of Specimen – 98.4°C
Final Temperature of water – 25.8°C
Results
From the calculations completed after the experiment, it was found that the specific
heat capacities of the specimens were;
Lead = 0.1283 kJ/kg K
Copper = 0.3284 kJ/ kg K
Aluminium = 0.8187 kJ/ kg K
Discussion
• How the results were interpreted
Prior to the experiment, the actual values for the specific heat capacity of each sample
were found. The actual values are as follows;
Lead = 0.129 kJ/kg K
Copper = 0.709 kJ/kg K
Aluminium = 0.9 kJ/kg K
It is clear that from the experiment conducted, the results gained for lead and copper
are reasonably accurate, however the result gained for copper is inaccurate. It is far
too low.
• Experimental error
There are a number of reasons why the result gained for copper is inaccurate. There
could have been human error during the experiment; the copper specimen may have
not been left in the beaker of boiling water for long enough, thus not enabling it to
reach the same temperature as the water. Also the time it took to transfer the copper
from the beaker of boiling water into the calorimeter may have been too long, thus
letting it cool slightly. Whilst the specimen was submerged in the water inside the
calorimeter, the water may have not been stirred enough, thus the heat energy of the
specimen might not have transferred properly in the water. Also, whilst the specimen
was in the calorimeter, the temperature of the water may not have been allowed to
reach a steady maximum temperature, thus the wrong final temperature was noted,
affecting the calculation. The calorimeter may not have been allowed to cool prior to
the first experiment with the lead specimen, so when the water was added for the
second experiment, its temperature may have been higher than it should have been.
Also, the initial temperature of the water inside the calorimeter may have been
changed by its surroundings as it was close to a hot plate, and the room temperature
was probably rising as the lab session took place because of body heat. Finally there
may have been error in the calculation that was made to find copper’s specific heat
capacity.
Conclusion
• We can see that the specific heat capacity of a material relates to its molecular
build up. It is evident that the substance will have a higher specific heat
capacity if there is more of a degree of freedom between the atoms in its
structure.
• Specific heat capacity needs to be taken into consideration to know the
suitability of a material for an intended use. For example, while designing the
cooking utensils the specific heat capacity of the material is important. The
material should not have too low or too high specific heat capacity else the
food either burns quickly or takes a long time to cook.
• For any given substance, the heat capacity of a body is directly proportional to
the amount of substance it contains (measured in terms of mass).
