Answer:
The mass of the brass sample is 0.061 grams.
Explanation:
Treating the calorimeter as an isolated system (no heat lost to the surroundings), we write
qsystem = qwater + qbrass
qwater = -qbrass
The heat gained by the water is given by qwater = m.s.ΔT
Where ΔT is the temperature change: ΔT= tfinal - tinitial, m the mass and s the specific heat. Therefore:
qwater = 250.0 g x 4.184 J/g.ºC x (17.5 - 16.0)ºC
qwater = 1569 J
Because the heat lost by the sample of brass is equal to the heat gained by the water, so
qbrass = -1569 J
Solving for the specific heat of brass, we write:
qbrass = m.s.ΔT
-1569 = m x 0.375 J/g.ºC x (17.5 - 85.7)ºC
m= 0.061 g