Lab 16: Specific Heat of a Metal

Summary 
In this lab students were asked to identify unknown metals by using their specific heats. Students were also tasked with designing the procedure of the experiment using their own knowledge of the subject. Materials provided include a Styrofoam cup, water, and a thermometer. We decided to measure this specific heat by heating up the metal in boiling water, then placing it in a cup of cool water. This is based off of the assumption that any heat gained by the cool water must have come from the hot metal and would thus assist in deducing the specific heat of the metal. 

Setup

Identification process 1. Obtain materials; mass the Styrofoam cup and the metal sample.
2. Cut a hole into the bottom of the smaller Styrofoam cup; mass the larger one.
3. Fill the cup with water (take temperature) and mass the Styrofoam cup.
4. Fill a beaker with water. Carefully place the mystery metal into the beaker.
5. Allow the water to heat up; close to boiling or boiling is ideal.
6. Carefully retrieve the metal with metal tongs once the water is deemed ready. Quickly transfer the metal to the Styrofoam cup of water and quickly cover the opening with the smaller cup to provide insulation. Place the thermometer into the opening.
7. Observe the thermometer; record the temperature at which little to no fluctuation is noticed.
8. Empty containers and return equipment from which it was obtained. 

Data Table

Metal Identity 

Metal A. is aluminum. This was determined from the specific heat capacity, which we found to be 1100 J/ kg °C. This amount was closest to the given specific heat of aluminum, which was far less at only 901 J/ kg °C. We calculated the specific heat by first calculating the heat gained by the water (found with the specific heat formula). We then solved the specific heat formula for the specific heat variable. Afterward, we substituted the heat gained by the water for the heat lost by the metal; the other variables were the mass of the metal sample and the change in temperature experienced by the metal sample.