Thermochemistry question?

Question

if the same amount of heat were added to individual 1-g samples of water, methanol and aluminum which substance would undergo the greatest temperture change? explain

I guess aluminum but i dont think thats right...whats the right answer for this?

Answer 1

Aluminum is correct. You technically need specific heat capacities to answer this question.  

Heat = mass * specific heat * temp change.

So if you have the same amount of heat and the same mass, the specific heat capacity will dictate how much of a temperature change we're talking about.

Quick check of Zumdahl (7th ed) and another source on Yahoo answers:

Aluminum specific heat: 0.89 (J/ C*g)

Methanol specific heat: 2.545 (J/C* g)

Water specific heat: 4.18 (J/C*g)

The lower the specific heat capacity, the less heat required to raise the temperature of 1 g of substance by a degree.  You have the same amount of heat for everything here.  Aluminum wins, followed by methanol, then water.

Double-check your textbook for specific heat numbers.  If your instructor is asking you a question like this, the numbers should be somewhere in your notes or in your book.

Answer 2

It would probably be the aluminum because it is a metal and is also an excellent conductor of heat.  Second would be the water, and then the methanol would undergo the least change.

Sincerely,

G.C.