[kwona]

I have water and an unknown metal. I know the masses of both, as well as the temperature changes. I know the specific heat of water, but I have to determine the specific heat of the unknown metal. There is a equation that goes as follows: q rxn = -(q soln + (C * delta T)). The q rxn would stand for heat the metal absorbed/released and q soln absorbed/released. C is (q cal / delta T).

m water - 100 g

m metal - 5.332 g

cp water - 4.184

cp metal - n/a

delta t water - 5.5

delta t metal - 23.5

I heated up the water and kept the metal at room temperature, so I think I would switch up the equation so that it goes like this:

q soln = -(q rxn + (C * delta T)... first of all, is that right? In addition, because the specific heat of the metal (rxn) is unknown, i replaced it with the variable X. So broken up it would look like this:

m water * cp water * delta T water = -((m metal * X * delta T metal) + (C * delta T)). But if I use a variable in the equation, then according to basic algebra I would distribute the negative to the q and C * T making them both negative. After, I would add C * T to the q soln which would be negative, giving me a positive value. In the end, my X or specific heat of the metal would equate to -6.6, which is very inaccurate given that most specific heats are below 1 J/g * C.

How can I fix my calculations?

[AWK]

You can always check your calculations using the value of specific heat obtained by you.

[Borek]

q rxn = -(q soln + (C * delta T))

This equation doesn't make much sense. Heat lost/gained by metal equals heat gained/lost by water, that's what allows finding the answer.

Note that on the right side you add things that have different units, it is like adding meters to seconds.