Including n or m in "q" Equation
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:04 am
Including n or m in "q" Equation
I have seen some problems worked out where neither moles nor mass are included in the equation involving heat capacity (q=nC(deltaT)). Can someone explain why that is?
-
- Posts: 23858
- Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:53 pm
- Has upvoted: 1253 times
Re: Including n or m in "q" Equation
Example is 8.25 in the 6th edition.
The heat capacity of the calorimeter is q/delta T, which gives us units of kJ/K.
If we did an experiment with a new reaction and observed the change in temperature, we could multiply delta T by calorimeter heat capacity to get q (heat transferred). We don't need mass or moles because we are looking at the temperature change of the calorimeter, and not the mass nor the moles of reactants.
The heat capacity of the calorimeter is q/delta T, which gives us units of kJ/K.
If we did an experiment with a new reaction and observed the change in temperature, we could multiply delta T by calorimeter heat capacity to get q (heat transferred). We don't need mass or moles because we are looking at the temperature change of the calorimeter, and not the mass nor the moles of reactants.
-
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:16 am
Re: Including n or m in "q" Equation
We wouldn't need n or m if we were only attempting to find the heat capacity of a substance in general. We would need it, however, if we were curious about the (specific) heat capacity of a sample of this substance.
Return to “Heat Capacities, Calorimeters & Calorimetry Calculations”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests