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A.M.D.G.

Heat Capacities and Latent Heats ‘O’ Level 0625 2019

a)Heat Capacity and Specific Heat Capacity

b)Latent Heats of fusion and vaporisation

HEAT CAPACITY AND SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

INTRODUCTION

Unless a material is boiling or melting, when it is heated its temperature rises. Some
materials require a smaller amount of heat energy to produce the same temperature rise
than others.

DEFINITION: The heat capacity of a body is the amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of a body by 1 Kelvin or 1°C.

Units: J/k

Symbol: C (capital letter)

The heat capacity of a body depends on: -

i) The mass of the body. The heavier the body the bigger is its heat capacity.
i) The material of the body e.g. aluminium has a smaller heat capacity than water. i.e.
water must be supplied with nearly five times as much heat energy as the aluminium
for the same rise in temperature.

DEFINITION: Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of 1kg mass of a body by 1K or 1°C.

Units: J/kgK

Symbol: c (small letter)

From the definitions

Heat capacity C = mass of body x its specific heat capacity = heat gained/temperature
change

C = mc = Q/(θ1 - θ2)
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Also from the above definitions if a body of mass m is heated so that its temperature rises
from θ1 to θ2 and its specific heat capacity is c, the amount of heat gained is calculated using
the formula:

Heat gained = specific heat capacity x mass of body x Temperature change

i.e. Q = mc (θ1 - θ2)

where Q = heat gained (or lost when body is cooling)
m = mass of body
c = specific heat capacity
θ1 = initial temperature
θ2 = final temperature

Example Calculate the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 50g
of water from 35°C to 90°C if the specific heat capacity of water is 4 200J/kgK.

ANSWER:

Also amount of heat energy given to a system Q can be generated by an electrical heater.
The following formulae can be used to calculate Q.

Heat energy generated by heater = Power x time

2
V
Q=Pxt but P = IV = I2R = R
⇒ Q = IVt
⇒ Q = I2Rt
2
V
.t
Q= R

Hence we have

IVt = mc (θ2 – θ1)

I2Rt = mc (θ2 – θ1)
2
V .t
R = mc (θ2 – θ1)
P x t = mc (θ2 – θ1)

EXPERIMENT
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AIM: To measure the specific heat capacity of an aluminium block

APPARATUS: Metal block, triple beam balance, voltmeter, ammeter, battery, connecting
wires, insulating material, stopwatch.

DIAGRAM:

METHOD:

1. Measure and record the mass m of the metal block.

2. Set the apparatus as shown in the diagram and record the initial temperature θ 1 of
the block.
3. Switch on the circuit and simultaneously start a stopwatch. Record the time it takes
for the temperature of the metal block to rise to θ2.
4. Record values of voltage V and current I.

CALCULATIONS

Assuming that there is no heat lost to the surrounding: -

* Heat generated by heater = Heat gained by metal block.

* Heat generated by heater = Power of heater x time
= P x t or IVt
* Heat gained by metal block = mc (θ2 – θ1)
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IVt
⇒ IVt = mc (θ2 – θ1) ⇒ c = m(θ 2−θ 1 )

NOTE: In practice this value of c is bigger than the actual value because some heat is lost to
the surroundings. i.e. if heat lost to the surroundings is h then by applying the principle of
conservation of energy we get:

Heat generated by heater = heat gained by metal block + heat lost to the surroundings

IVt = mc (θ2 – θ1) + h

IVt−h
c=
⇒ m(θ2 −θ1 ) This equation gives the actual value

EXPERIMENT 2

AIM: To measure the specific heat capacity of a liquid e.g. water.

APPARATUS: Electric heater, thermometer, beaker, insulating jacket, power supply,

ammeter, voltmeter, connecting wires.

METHOD:
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1. Measure mass m of water and set the apparatus as shown on the diagram
2. Record initial temperature of water θ1
3. Switch on the circuit and simultaneously start a stopwatch.
Measure the time t it takes for the temperature to rise to θ 2
4. Record values of the current I and the p.d.V

CALCULATION

Assuming no heat energy is lost or absorbed by beaker if follows that;

Heat generated by heater = Heat gained by water

⇒ Power of heater x time = mc (θ2 – θ1)

P x t = mc (θ2 – θ1) or IVt = mc (θ2 – θ1)
* In practice heat energy is lost to the surroundings.

WORKED EXAMPLES

1. Find the time taken by a 500W heater to raise the temperature of 50kg of material of
specific heat capacity 960J/kgK from 18°C to 38°C. Assume no heat is lost.

2. A 700W heater raises the temperature of water from 20°C to 100°C in 10 minutes.
Calculate the mass of the water if the specific heat capacity of water is 4 200J/kgK.

3. Calculate a) the heat given out when 50g of iron of specific heat capacity
460J/kgK cools from 45°C to 15°C.
b) The specific heat capacity of gold if 108J of heat energy raise the
temperature 9g of the material from 0°C to 100°C.
c) Calculate the heat energy required to raise the temperature of
1000kg of sea water through 40K if specific heat capacity of sea water is 3 900J/kgK.

LATENT HEATS

INTRODUCTION

Latent means hidden. When a solid is melting its temperature does not change. Likewise
when a liquid is boiling its temperature does not change. The heat energy supplied to the
solid when a solid is melting is called latent heat of fusion. The word latent is used because
this heat energy does not increase the temperature of the melting substance. The heat
energy is needed to separate the particles so that they form the liquid. Also as the particles
get into the liquid state they gain potential energy which comes from the heat energy
supplied. If the liquid changes back to solid, the heat energy is released again.
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Likewise when a liquid is boiling its temperature does not change and the heat energy it
absorbs is called latent heat of vaporisation. The heat energy is needed to separate the
particles so that they form the gas. Some of the energy is required to push back the
atmosphere as the gas form. Some of the heat energy appears as potential energy gained by
the vapour molecules.

DEFINITION: The specific latent heat of fusion is the amount of heat required to change
1kg of solid at its melting point to the liquid state.

Units: J/kg

Symbol: L

Ice has a specific latent heat of fusion of 330 000J/kg. This means 330 000J of heat energy
must be given to ice to produce 1kg of liquid water at 0°C.

For any unknown mass m of solid at its melting point the latent heat of fusion required is
given by the formula;

LATENT HEAT = MASS X SPECIFIC LATENT HEAT

Q = mL (Recall Q = P x t = IVt)

EXPERIMENT

AIM: To measure the specific latent heat of fusion of ice

APPARATUS: electric heater, funnel, beaker, ice, stopwatch

DIAGRAM:
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METHOD:

1. Set the apparatus as shown in the diagram that above.

2. Find the mass of the water collected in the beaker after 300s.

CALCULATIONS

Energy transferred when ice melted = mL

Energy supplied by heater = P x t

Hence energy supplied by heater = energy absorbed by ice as it melted.

P×t
⇒ P×t=mL 1 ⇒ L=
m This value is much bigger than the accurate value as
heat is lost to the surroundings i.e.

P×t−h
⇒ L=
P x t = mL + h m
h is heat lost to the surroundings

DEFINITION: Specific latent heat of vaporisation is the amount of heat required to convert
1kg mass of liquid at its boiling point to the vapour state.

UNITS: J/kg

Symbol: L
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Water has a specific latent heat of vaporisation of 2 300 000J/kg. This means that 2 300
000Joules of heat energy are needed to convert 1kg of boiling water to steam.

EXPERIMENT:

AIM: To determine the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water

APPARATUS: Sensitive balance, electric heater, beaker

DIAGRAM:

METHOD:

1. Set the apparatus as shown on the diagram.

2. As the water boils measure the mass m of water which boils in time t.
3. Record values of the current flowing and the pd across the heater as shown by the
voltmeter.

CALCULATIONS

Assuming no heat is lost to the surroundings

Heat supplied by heater = energy transferred when water is vaporised

∴ Power x time = mass x specific latent heat of vaporisation

P x t = IVt = mL
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IVt
L=
⇒ m

IVt−h
L=
OR m if h is heat lost to the surroundings

Worked Examples.
1.How much energy is needed to change
a)10kg of ice into water at the same temperature
b)10kg of water into water vapour at the same temperature?
Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 330 000J/kg; Specific latent heat of vaporisation of
water = 2 300 000 J/kg.

2.A 460W water heater is used to boil water.

Assuming no thermal energy losses, what mass of steam will it produce in 10 minutes.

3.Calculate the amount of heat required to convert 4kg 0f ice at -8°C into steam at 100°C.
(Specific heat capacity of water is 4200J/kgK and that of ice is 2100J/kgK. For the latent
heats use the values in question 1 above).

EXAM QUESTION
1.An immersion heater rated at 150W is fitted into a large block of ice at 0°C. The specific
latent heat of fusion of ice is 300J/g. How long does it take to melt 10g of ice?

2.How much heat is needed to change 20g of ice at O°C to steam at 100°C? Note that three
stages are involved in this calculation. Use the information given below.
(specific heat capacity of water is 4.2J/g°C and of ice is 2.0J/g°C and specific latent heat of
fusion of ice is 340J/g and specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2300J/g)

3.A student concludes that the results of his experiments show that it requires more energy
to convert 1g of water into steam at 100°C than it does to raise the temperature of 1g of
water from 0°C to 100°C.
Use the students’ data to confirm that this conclusion is correct and calculate the difference
between the two amounts of energy.

EXPERIMENT 1 Mass of water evaporated at 100°C = 15g

Heat supplied = 33 900J [5]
Mass of water used = 250g
Heat supplied = 10 500J
Rise in temperature = 10°C

EXPERIMENT 2
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Explain in molecular terms why considerable heat energy is needed to convert 1g of water
into 1g of steam at 100°C without any change in temperature taking place. [2]