Math Problem Statement

6.52 g of CaCl2 is dissolved into 67.5 g of water. The temperature of the solution increases from 20.0 °C to 48.8 °C. The specific heat of the solution is 4.184 J/(g °C). How many kJ of heat are released by this process? Enter your answer to 2 decimal places and do not include units. (Hint: you need the grams of solution, not solvent.)

Solution

To calculate the amount of heat released during the dissolution of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) in water, we can use the formula:

q=mcΔTq = m \cdot c \cdot \Delta T

where:

  • qq is the heat released (in joules),
  • mm is the mass of the solution (in grams),
  • cc is the specific heat of the solution (in J/(g°C)),
  • ΔT\Delta T is the change in temperature (in °C).

Step 1: Determine the mass of the solution

The mass of the solution is the sum of the mass of CaCl₂ and the mass of water:

msolution=mCaCl2+mwater=6.52g+67.5g=74.02gm_{\text{solution}} = m_{\text{CaCl2}} + m_{\text{water}} = 6.52 \, \text{g} + 67.5 \, \text{g} = 74.02 \, \text{g}

Step 2: Determine the temperature change (ΔT\Delta T)

The temperature change is the final temperature minus the initial temperature:

ΔT=TfinalTinitial=48.8°C20.0°C=28.8°C\Delta T = T_{\text{final}} - T_{\text{initial}} = 48.8 \, \text{°C} - 20.0 \, \text{°C} = 28.8 \, \text{°C}

Step 3: Use the formula to calculate the heat released

Now, we can plug all the known values into the heat equation:

q=(74.02g)(4.184J/g°C)(28.8°C)q = (74.02 \, \text{g}) \cdot (4.184 \, \text{J/g°C}) \cdot (28.8 \, \text{°C})

q=8749.57Jq = 8749.57 \, \text{J}

Step 4: Convert joules to kilojoules

Since the question asks for the answer in kJ, we convert from joules to kilojoules:

q=8749.57J1000=8.75kJq = \frac{8749.57 \, \text{J}}{1000} = 8.75 \, \text{kJ}

Final Answer:

The amount of heat released is 8.75 kJ.


Would you like further details or have any questions? Here are some related questions:

  1. How would the heat released change if the specific heat of the solution was different?
  2. How can the enthalpy change of dissolution be calculated from this heat value?
  3. What assumptions are made in calculating the heat released in this problem?
  4. How would the heat released change if the mass of the water were increased?
  5. How do you convert heat from joules to calories or other energy units?

Tip: Always remember to use the total mass of the solution, not just the solvent, when calculating heat changes.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Heat Transfer
Thermochemistry
Temperature Change Calculations

Formulas

q = m × c × ΔT
ΔT = T_final - T_initial
q (in kJ) = q (in J) ÷ 1000

Theorems

Law of Conservation of Energy

Suitable Grade Level

High School (Grades 10-12)