Specific Heat Capacity Lab Report

In part A of the experiment the two values obtained for the specific heat capacity of the metal were about .0500 J/mol. This is a large deviation, with both of these values identifying very different metals. The average heat capacity identified the metal used as brass. The average heat capacity calculated was .3776 J/mol and the actual heat capacity of brass is .375 J/mol. The second run displayed the closest value to the actual value. A source of error that may have caused a large divide in the calculations could have been when the metal was transferred from the boiling water to the calorimeter. In the first run the metal was not fully submerged on the water from the calorimeter and was uncovered for more than two seconds. The second run was smoother in this section and displayed a value much closer to the actual specific heat capacity of the metal. This error can be prevented with a smoother transfer of the metal from the boiling water to the calorimeter with a pair of tongs that have a rubber tip that has a better grip of the metal.
The Calcium chloride and water displayed through the calculations on page sixty-two that the reaction produced a negative heat value for the reaction which means that it gave off heat. A reaction that give off heat such as this one is exothermic. The ammonium nitrate and water generated a positive heat value for the reaction, meaning that the reaction absorbed heat and is classified as an endothermic reaction. Sources of error that may have occurred during this portion of the experiment would be the mixing of the solution after it was added to the calorimeter. The solutions were not thoroughly mixed and settled on the bottom of the styrofoam cup. This source of error can be improved by using a spatula too instead of a rod to mix the solution while the temperature is being