find out the specific heat of the solid
Answers
Explanation:
Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat required for one gram of substance at 1℃. To understand how to determine specific heat capacity of a given solid by method of mixtures, please read the below article.
Aim
To determine specific heat capacity of a given solid by method of mixtures.
Materials Required
A hypsometer
Calorimeter
Stirrer
A lid and outer jacket
Solid in small pieces
Balance
Weight box
Two half degree thermometer
Cold water
Clamp stand
Theory
What is a calorimeter?
The calorimeter is a device used to measure the heat flow of a chemical or physical reaction. Calorimetry is the process of measuring this heat. It consists of a metal container to hold water above the combustion chamber and a thermometer to measure the temperature change.
What is a hypsometer?
Hypsometer is an instrument used to determine the boiling point of water at a given altitude.
Diagram

Procedure
Put thermometers A and B in a beaker containing water and note their reading. Let thermometer A be a standard to find the correction that is to be applied to thermometer B.
Put the thermometer B into the copper tube of hypsometer containing the powder of given solid. Before placing the hypsometer on the burner, add sufficient amount of water.
Record the weight of calorimeter with stirrer and lid over it.
Add water (temperature between 5 to 8℃) to the calorimeter at half-length and weigh it again.
Heat the hypsometer till the temperature of solid is steady.
Note the temperature of water in calorimetry. Now slowly stir and add the solid powder from hypsometer to the calorimeter and record the final temperature of the mixture.
Remove the thermometer A from the calorimeter.
Note the weight of calorimeter with the contents and lid.
Observations
Reading of thermometer A = TA= ……… ℃
Reading of thermometer B = TB= ……… ℃
Correction applied in B with respect to A (TA – TB) = …….. ℃
Mass of calorimeter and stirrer m = …….. g
Water equivalent of calorimeter ω = m × 0.095 = …….. g
Specific heat of copper calorimeter = 0.095 cal/g
Mass of calorimeter + stirrer + lid = m1 = ……. g
Mass of calorimeter + stirrer + lid + cold water = m2 = …… g
The steady temperature of hot solid = Ts = …….. ℃
Corrected temperature of hot solid T =Ts – (TA – TB) = ……… ℃
The temperature of cold water = t =……… ℃
The temperature of mixture = Ө =…….. ℃
Mass of calorimeter, stirrer, lid, cold water, and solid = m3 =…… g
Calculations
Mass of cold water = m2 – m1=…….. g
Mass of hot solid = m3 – m2=…….. g
Rise of the temperature of cold water and calorimeter = Ө – t =………. ℃
Fall in temperature of solid = T – Ө =……… ℃
Heat gain by calorimeter, cold water and stirrer = [ω + ( m2 – m1)(Ө – t)] =……. (a)
Heat lost by solid = (m3 – m2) × C × (T – Ө) =……. (a)
Here, C is the specific heat of solid to be calculated.
According to the principle of calorimeter, heat lost = heat gained
(m3 – m2) × C × (T – Ө) = [ω + ( m2 – m1)(Ө – t)] C=[ω+(m2−m1)(θ−t)][(m3−m2)(T−θ)]=…..cal/g0C
Result
Specific heat of given solid by the method of the mixture is ………. cal g-1 ℃-1.
Precautions
Sufficient amount of solid powder should be used so as to cover the tip of the thermometer.
Sufficient amount of water should be taken in hypsometer.
Dropping of solid should be quick and gentle.
To avoid excess radiation, calorimeter should be polished from outside.
The temperature of cold water should not cross the dew point.
Sources Of Error
There might be heat loss while transferring solid into the calorimeter.
During conduction, convection and radiation, there might be heat loss.
The bulbs of the thermometer might not be completely inside the solid.
Note: To determine the specific heat of a given liquid by method of mixtures, the liquid is taken in place of cold water to determine the specific heat. Proceed with the same procedure as in the experiment