Specific Heat Capacity: Understanding Energy Absorption in Iron

How does the specific heat capacity of a substance affect its ability to absorb or release energy?

A sample of iron, 10.0 g is heated and its temperature changed from 25.0°C to 50.4°C. What is the amount of energy does it take-in?

Understanding Specific Heat Capacity

The specific heat capacity of a substance determines how much energy it can absorb or release when its temperature changes. In the case of iron, the specific heat capacity is 0.45 J/g °C, meaning that it requires 0.45 joules of energy to raise the temperature of 1 gram of iron by 1 degree Celsius.

Explanation of Energy Absorption in Iron

When a substance like iron is heated, it absorbs energy in order to increase its temperature. The specific heat capacity of iron plays a crucial role in determining how much energy is required for this process. In the given example, the 10.0 g sample of iron absorbs 114.3 joules of energy as its temperature changes from 25.0°C to 50.4°C.

This calculation is based on the formula Q = mcΔT, where Q represents the amount of energy absorbed, m is the mass of the substance, c is the specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature. By substituting the values into the formula, we can determine the amount of energy absorbed by the iron sample.

Understanding specific heat capacity is essential in predicting how different substances respond to changes in temperature and calculating the energy requirements for such processes. By knowing the specific heat capacity of a substance, scientists and engineers can better control and manipulate energy absorption and release in various materials.