A98.0°c piece of cadmium (c=.850j/g°c) is placed in 150.0g of 37.0°c water. after sitting for a few minutes, both have a temperature of 38.6°c. what was the mass of the cadmium sample?

The answer is 19.9 grams cadmium. 
Assuming there was no heat leaked from the system, the heat q lost by cadmium would be equal to the heat gained by the water:
     heat lost by cadmium = heat gained by the water
     -qcadmium = qwater
Since q is equal to mcΔT, we can now calculate for the mass m of the cadmium sample:
     -qcadmium = qwater
     -(mcadmium)(0.850J/g°C)(38.6°C-98.0°C)) = 150.0g(4.18J/g°C)(38.6°C-37.0°C)
     mcadmium = 19.9 grams

Electrons are emitted