A 5.0-g sample of Substance X increases in temperature from 20.0°C to 22.0°C when it absorbs 9.6J of heat. What is the specific heat of Substance X in J/g °C)?

0.96 J/g °C

General Formulas and Concepts:

Thermochemistry

Specific Heat Formula: q = mcΔT

m is mass (in grams)c is specific heat (in J/g °C)ΔT is change in temperature, final - initial (in °C)

Explanation:

Step 1: Define

[Given] m = 5.0 g

[Given] ΔT = 22.0 °C - 20.0 °C = 2.0 °C

[Given] q = 9.6 J

[Solve] c

Step 2: Solve for c

Substitute in variables [Specific Heat Formula]:                                             9.6 J = (5.0 g)c(2.0 °C)[Specific Heat] Multiply:                                                                                   9.6 J = (10. g °C)c[Specific Heat] Isolate c:                                                                                   0.96 J/g °C = c[Specific Heat] Rewrite:                                                                                    c = 0.96 J/g °C

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No. an alpha particle is a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons, i.e. a helium