Question

1. A certain amount of heat will warm 1 g of material X by 10°C and 1 g of material Y by 40°C. Which material has higher specific heat capacity?
2. Which material, X or Y, would you select to make a calorimeter?
3. The specific heat capacity of a substance remains the same when it changes its state from solid to liquid. State True or False.

Answer 1

a. Given: Mass of X = Mass of Y = m = 1 g

Change in temperature of X (Δt_X) = 10°C

Change in temperature of Y (Δt_Y) = 40°C

Let,

Amount of heat = Q

Specific heat capacity of X = C_X

Specific heat capacity of X = C_Y

Now,

For X,

Q = m × C_X × Δt_X

= 1 × C_X × 10

= 10 C_X

For Y,

Q = m × C_Y × Δt_Y

= 1 × C_Y × 40

= 40 C_Y

⇒ 10C_X = 40C_Y

⇒ C_X = 4C_Y

Hence, material X has a higher specific heat capacity.

b. Material chosen for calorimeter should have low specific heat capacity. So, here Y material should be used to make a calorimeter.

c. The given statement is false.

Explanation: 

The specific heat capacity of a substance varies with phase; it is phase-dependent.