I have a lab that has this task: ‘You will investigate
whether specific heat capacity is an intensive property (i.e. a physical property
that does not depend on the amount of matter present).’
I do not understand how this lab tests whether mass (m) affects the specific heat capacity (c), hence if it is intensive or not, because in the procedures (below) we are only changing the temperature, not the mass.
Also, for this lab, what is an appropriate testable question? What are my dependent and independent variables? What is a good hypothesis? Here are the lab procedures:
Use the steps outlined below to complete the experiment.
In the Stockroom, click on the Glassware tab, and select a 250 mL Erlenmyer flask. It will appear on the lab bench.
Right click on the flask. Then click on Rename. Name this flask “Water.”
Return to the Stockroom. Click on the Solutions tab. Add the 3000 mL of Distilled Water container to the lab bench.
Click and hold the carboy of Distilled Water, and move it over on top of the flask marked “Water”. A measurement box will appear. Transfer 50.00 mL of distilled water into the flask. Return to the Stockroom.
In the Stockroom, add the Erlenmeyer flask containing 100.00 mL of Compound Y to the lab bench. Assume that Compound Y has a density of 1.62 g/mL.
On the lab bench, right click on the flask containing water and choose Thermal Properties. Click on “Insulate from surroundings,” and change the temperature to 40 °C for Trial 1.
Right click on the flask containing Compound Y, and choose Thermal Properties. Click on “Insulate from surroundings,” and change the temperature to 20 °C.
Click and hold the flask containing Compound Y, and move it over on top of the flask containing water. A measurement box will appear. Transfer 100.00 mL of Compound Y into the flask containing water. Record the final temperature of the solution.
Repeat steps 1–8 for water at 50 °C (Trial 2).
Repeat steps 1–8 for water at 60 °C (Trial 3).
Record all pertinent data into a well-organized table.
Hint: There is one variable in the procedure that is changed. Consider this when considering your variables.
