Skip to main content

How many joules are required to boil 150.0 grams of water?

To boil a given quantity of water, we need to supply some heat to it. The amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of any substance is dependent on the mass of the substance, its specific heat capacity and the change in temperature. The specific heat capacity of a substance is defined as the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of the substance by 1 degrees C. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.184 J/g/K.

Let's say we have to find the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 150 g of water 75 degrees Celsius. For the equation, I'll say water at 25 degrees Celsius must be heated to 100 degrees Celsius, the boiling point of water. To convert degrees Celsius to degrees Kelvin, add 273 to the Celsius value. 25 degrees Celsius is 298 degrees Kelvin; 100 degrees Celsius, 373 degrees Kelvin.


This can be calculated as:


energy needed = mass of water x specific heat capacity of water x temperature change 


= 150 g x 4.184 J/g/K x (373 - 298) K = 47,070 J.


Thus, 47,070 J are needed to increase the temperature of 150 g of water from 25 degrees C to its boiling point of 100 degrees C. 


One can follow a similar procedure to determine the energy needed to heat water from one temperature to another. Note that phase change is not taking place in the current case. If the water were to be converted to steam, we will also need to include the heat energy needed for phase change.


Hope this helps.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h