Determining the specific heat of a metal that reacts with water, such as sodium, requires a workaround to prevent the reaction. Using oil instead of water can indeed help.
Here's a modified procedure you could follow:
1. Heat up the sodium sample and oil in separate containers using a known heat source. It's crucial to use an oil with known specific heat and a high boiling point that doesn't react with sodium.
2. Measure the initial temperature of the sodium and the oil before heating. Use an appropriate thermometer that does not react with sodium.
3. Carefully control and record the amount of heat delivered to the sodium sample and oil until both achieve the same final temperature, so the heat exchange occurs only between the oil and sodium.
4. Record the final temperature of both the sodium and the oil.
5. Use the following equation to calculate the specific heat of the sodium sample:
q = mcΔT
where q is the heat transferred, m is the mass, c is the specific heat of the material, and ΔT is the temperature change.
Since the energy transferred between the oil and the sodium is equal, you can set up two equations, one for the oil and one for the sodium:
q1 = m1c1ΔT1 (oil)
q2 = m2c2ΔT2 (sodium)
And since the heat exchange is a closed system,
q1 = q2
So,
m1c1ΔT1 = m2c2ΔT2
You can solve for the specific heat of the sodium (c2) using the equation above, given that you know the mass and specific heat of the oil (m1 and c1), the mass of the sodium sample (m2), and the temperature changes for both the oil (ΔT1) and sodium (ΔT2).
How would I go about determining the specific heat of a metal (like Sodium) that reacts with water?
Would using oil instead of water help?
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