Specific Heat Capacity

[Karen Ung 2H]

The book states that the heat capacity of a dilute solution is taken to be the same as the pure solvent. Why?

[Aya Shokair- Dis 2H]

Perhaps it works best with the scope of this class.
A diluted solution might not significantly differ in its specific heat compared to the pure solvent for it to be taken into account.

[Jingyi Li 2C]

It is just a convention to assume the specific heat capacity of the solution is the same as the solvent.

[Lorie Seuylemezian-2K]

I agree with the responses above that this is just a convention to allow us to do the calculations for solutions.

[Michael Lee 2I]

It just works with the questions to assume the specific heat capacity is the same as the solvent.

[Max Mazo 2C]

I think Dr. Lavelle said in lecture on Wednesday that the solution is so dilute that that salt(in the case of acid-base reactions) has very little impact on the specific heat capacity and you can just use the capacity of the solvent.