Identifying a Sample of Metal by Finding its Specific Heat, and

Finding Values for Latent Heat of vaporisation and Latent Heat

of Fusion of Water.

Leah Jolley (25358392)

Partners:
Kady Gill
Joseph Scott
Aidan McAra

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine values for the specific heat capacity of an unknown
metal, the latent heat of fusion and the latent heat of vaporisation. The specific heat capacity of an
unknown metal was found to be 129 J/kg. The latent heat of fusion was 320.57 kj/kg and the latent
heat of vaporisation was -60.11 kj/kg. The results found did not agree with the accepted values.

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Introduction

Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a
1 kg mass of a specific substance by one degree Celsius. Specific heat capacity is typically measured
in joules per kilogram per Kelvin (J / kg K −1). All materials have a unique specific heat value because
it depends on the atomic and molecular structure. The specific heat capacity of a given sample can be
found by using the equation,

( M w C w ∆ T w)
C s=
( M s ∆T s)
Where Cs is the specific heat capacity of the sample, Mw is mass of the water used, Cw is the specific
heat of water, ∆Tw is the change in temperature of the water, M s is the mass of the sample used, and
∆Ts is the change in temperature of the sample.
Two additional experiments were carried out to determine experimental values for latent heats. Latent
heat is the measure of the amount of energy released or absorbed by a substance when it undergoes a
phase change such as melting, freezing, boiling, or condensing. The terms ‘latent heat of fusion’ and
‘latent heat of vaporisation’ refers to the absorption of heat when a substance at its melting point
changes from a solid to a liquid, and the release of energy when a substance at its boiling point
changes from a liquid to a gas, respectively. The latent heat of fusion is given by

M wC w∆T w
L f =−C w∗∆T ice –
M ice

Where Cw is the specific heat of water, ∆Tice is the change in the temperature of the ice, Mw is the
mass of the water, Tw is the change in temperature of the water and Mice is the mass of the ice.

The latent heat of vaporisation is given by,

−( M st∗C w∗∆ T sw+ M w∗C w∗∆ T w )

L v=
M st

Where Mst is the mass of the steam, Cw is the specific heat of water, ∆Tsw is the change in the
temperature of the steam water, Mw is the mass of the water, and ∆Tw is the change in the
temperature of the water.

Method

Specific heat capacity

The equipment was set up as shown in figure 1. A steam generator filled ¾ full of water was
connected by a tube to a calorimeter. The steam generator was turned on, allowing the water inside
to boil. The mass of the unknown metal sample, as well as the calorimeter before and after water
had been added, were measured. Then, the calorimeter was filled with enough water to fully
submerge the metal sample when it was suspended in it.

Figure 1. Experimental set up for calculating specific heat capacity, and latent heats of fusion.

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Once the water in the steam generator began to boil, the metal sample was hung by a piece of string
tied to a rod, into the boiling water and left for 2 minutes to allow the metal to reach thermal
equilibrium with the water. The temperature of the cold water in the calorimeter was measured
before taking the sample out of the boiling water, wiping it dry and then submerging it into the cold
water. Once the sample was in the cold water, it was bobbed up and down slightly, avoiding hitting
the sides or the bottom of the calorimeter. At the same time, the water was stirred slightly with the
thermometer and the maximum temperature the water reached was recorded. The information
gathered was required to determine the metal samples specific heat capacity.

Latent heat of fusion

To find the latent heat of fusion of water, the setup remained unchanged however a different
procedure was used. Firstly, the rooms temperature was measured. Then the calorimeter was filled
with water which was approximately 15 K above room temperature using a hot water jug provided,
the specific temperature of the water was measured (Ti ). The mass of the calorimeter with the water
inside of it was measured ( Mcw ). A small handful of ice cubes was slowly added to the water, then
stirred until the ice completely melted. Ice was repeatedly added like this until the temperature of
the water was roughly as far below room temperature as it was initially above. The final temperature
of the water was measured (Tf ). Then the mass of the calorimeter, water and ice was measured (
Mcwi ). The data found was used to calculate the latent heat of fusion of water. The result was then
compared to the given accepted value.

Latent heat of vaporisation

To find the latent heat of vaporisation, the setup remained unchanged again, however another
method was used. The steam generator was set up as shown in figure 1. The tubing was setup so
that only the very tip was immersed in the water. Ice was added to the calorimeter so that the water
was at a temperature of at least 10 K cooler than room temperature. The mass of the calorimeter
and water was measured ( Mcw ¿ . The steam generator was turned onto full power level to minimise
the amount of water which condensed in the tube and dripped in to the water. Once the generator
had been boiling for about a minute, the temperature of the water was measured ( Ti ). The lid was
then placed onto the calorimeter, ensuring the tip of the tube was submerged, and the water inside
was stirred with a thermometer until the temperature read about 10 K above room temperature. The
tip of the tube was then removed from the water, and the stirring continued. The maximum
temperature of the water was measured ¿). The final mass of the calorimeter, water and condensed

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steam was measured ¿). The data found was used to calculate the heat vaporisation of water, and its
uncertainty. The result was then compared with the given accepted value.

Results

The data collected from the experiment was converted into three different tables, one data
collection is specific to finding the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal sample (Table 1). The
next data collection is related to the measurements made when finding an experimental value for
the latent heat of fusion (Table 2), and the last data collection contains the measurements made
when finding an experimental value for the latent heat of vaporisation (Table 3). All relevant data is
provided in each table as well as the measurement uncertainties. The electric scales used had an
uncertainty value of ± 0.00001 g. The thermometer used had an uncertainty value of ± 0.1 degrees
Celsius. All temperature measurements were recorded in degrees Celsius.

Item Measured Initial Temperature (°C) Final Temperature (°C) Mass (kg)
Unknown Metal 100 ± 0.1 24.8 ± 0.1 0.22875 ± 0.00001
Calorimeter N/A N/A 0.0325 ± 0.00001
Water 23.5 ± 0.1 24.8 ± 0.1 0.3272 ± 0.00001
Table 1: Includes all relevant data collected when finding the specific heat capacity of an unknown
metal.

Measured Substance Initial Temperature (°C) Final Temperature (°C) Mass (kg)
Ice -0.8 ± 0.1 9.3 ± 0.1 0.10745 ± 0.00001
Calorimeter N/A N/A ± 0.1 0.0325 ± 0.00001
Water 41.8 ± 0.1 9.3 ± 0.1 0.2198 ± 0.00001
Table 2: Data collected when finding an experimental value for the latent heat of fusion.

Measured Substance Initial Temperature (°C) Final Temperature (°C) Mass (Kg)
Steam 100 ± 0.1 39.8 ± 0.1 0.09595 ± 0.00001
Water 12.9 ± 0.1 39.8 ± 0.1 0.29845 ± 0.00001
Calorimeter N/A N/A 0.0325 ± 0.00001
Table 3: Data gathered when finding an experimental value for the latent heat of fusion.

Analysis

Specific heat capacity of an unknown metal

The given equation for finding the heat energy required to change the temperature of a sample is
given by,

Q=mc ∆ T

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This was rearranged to find the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal sample,

( M w C w ∆ T w)
C s=
( M s ∆T s)
Therefore, the specific heat capacity of the unknown metal can be found,

0.3272∗4186∗1.3 J
Cs= =103.5
( 0.22875∗−75.2 ) Kg

Specific heat capacity uncertainties:

0.00001
%δ Ms = = 4.37*10-3 %
0.22875
1
%δ Mw = = 3.056*10-4 %
0.3272
0.2
%δ∆ Tw ¿ = 15 %
1.3
% δ∆ Ts = 1.33 = 0.13 %

Total % δ = 15 %

The experimental value for the specific heat capacity came close to the accepted value of leads
specific heat capacity, 129 J/kg [2]. Therefore it was assumed the unknown metal was lead however,
it is not a viable assumption.

Latent heat of fusion

The equation for the heat energy absorbed by the latent heat of fusion was given by,

Q=m∗Lf
This formula was rearranged to find the value for the latent heat of fusion,

M wC w∆T w
L f =−C w∗∆T ice –
M ice

Therefore the experimental value found for the latent heat of fusion was,

(0.2198∗4186∗32.5)
−4186∗10.1−( )=320.57 kj/kg
(0.10745)

Latent heat of fusion uncertainty:

0.00001
%δ Mw= =4.54∗10-3 %
0.2198
0.00001
%δ Mi = = 9.3*10-3 %
0.10745

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 0.2
%δ∆ Tw = = 0.615 %
32.5
Total % δ = 0.6 %

Therefore even with the uncertainty limits the experimental value found does not agree with the
accepted value of 336 kj/kg [2].

Latent heat of vaporisation

The equation given for the energy released by latent heat of vaporisation is given by,

Q=mLv

This formula was rearranged to find an experimental value for the latent heat of vaporisation,

−( M s∗C w∗∆ T sw+ M w∗C w∗∆T w )

L v=
(M s )

When using the data found, the experimental value found for the latent heat of vaporisation was,

−( 0.0959∗4186∗−60.2+ 0.26595∗4186∗26.9) /(0.9595)=−60.11 kj/kg

Latent heat of vaporisation uncertainties:

0.00001
%δMw= =3.35∗10-3
0.29845
0.2
%δ ∆ Tw= =0.74 %
26.9
0.2
%δ ∆ Tst= =0.33 %
60.2
Total % δ = 1 %

So the experimental value found for the latent heat of vaporisation does not agree with the
accepted value of 2260 kj/kg [2].

Discussion

The specific heat of the unknown metal was found to be 103.5 J/kg ± 15%. This value is close to the
specific heat capacity of lead, which is 129 J/kg [2]. However, the values do not agree even after
considering the uncertainty. The most likely source of this disagreement is the measurement of the
unknown metals temperature which was just assumed to be at thermal equilibrium with the water it
was in, this was a largely unreliable way of measuring the metals temperature, there would have
also been heat loss when transferring the metal from the boiling water to the calorimeter.

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 The experimental value of the latent heat of fusion was 320.57 kj/kg. This value is similar to the
accepted value of the latent heat of fusion of water, 336 kj/kg [2]. However, even with the
uncertainty of 0.6%, the values do not agree. The values did come rather close, the reason for the
small differences in values could be due to many factors, including that the ice used was not at a
completely frozen state when placed into the calorimeter.

The experimental value for the latent heat of vaporisation was -60.11 kj/kg which is very far off from
the accepted value of 2260 kj/kg [2]. One limitation which highly influenced errors in the latent heat
values, was the lack of control of heat loss, therefore the measurements of temperature were
largely faulted. Heat energy was a very important factor in this experiment. To improve on this,
better quality calorimeters could be used which prevent excess heat loss to the environment.
Achieving a more controlled setup where no heat would be lost would be ideal, but such conditions
are hard to achieve.

Conclusion

The experiment was conducted to determine experimental values for the latent heat of fusion and
vaporisation, as well as to find the specific heat capacity of an unknown metal. The specific heat
capacity of the unknown metal was found to be 129 J/kg. The metal was assumed to be lead
however the experimental value doesn’t agree with leads accepted specific heat capacity value. The
experimental value found for the latent heat of fusion was 320.57 kj/kg. The value fund does not
agree with the accepted value of 336 kj/kg [2]. Finally, the experimental value found for the latent
heat of vaporisation was -60.11 kj/kg. This value also did not agree with the accepted value, which is
2260 kj/kg [2]. There were several factors which made the overall experiment faulty and unreliable,
such as the uncontrollable heat loss.

References

[1] Raphael Nolden, PHYS101 Lab Manual 2014, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, University of
Canterbury.

[2] Serway, Jewett, Wilson and Wilson, Physics Vol. 1, 1 st ed. 2013 Cengage Learning Australia Pty Ltd.