Question

The specific heat of gold is 0.031 calories/gram°C. If 10.0 grams of gold were heated and the temperature of the sample changed by 20.0°C, how many calories of heat energy were absorbed by the sample?

Answer 1

Answer : The heat energy absorbed by the sample was 6.2 calories.

Explanation :

Formula used :

$Q=m\times c\times \Delta T$

where,

Q = heat absorbed = ?

m = mass of gold = 10.0 g

c = specific heat of gold = $0.031cal/g^oC$

$\Delta T$ = change in temperature  = $20.0^oC$

Now put all the given value in the above formula, we get:

$Q=10.0g\times 0.031cal/g^oC\times 20.0^oC$

$Q=6.2cal$

Therefore, the heat energy absorbed by the sample was 6.2 calories.

Answer 2

10 grams of gold would have a specific heat of 0.31 calories ie 10 x 0.031 and if heated up by 20.0 degrees centigrade then 20.0 x 0.31 would be a 6.2 calorie increase in heat. In other words, the specific heat means that it is the calories produced in the gram of gold by a 1 degree rise in degrees centigrade.