Specific/Latent Heat and Melting Iron

In summary, to melt 16.7 kg of iron initially at 21.3°C, the total heat needed is approximately 1.58x10^7 J. However, there may be discrepancies in the result due to the various values for the latent heat of iron.
  • #1
Anony-mouse
60
0

Homework Statement


How much heat is needed to melt 16.7 kg of iron that is initially at 21.3°C?

Homework Equations


Q=m*c*ΔT + mL

The Attempt at a Solution


here: m=16.7kg, c=0.45kJ/kg*K, and ΔT=1538-21.3=1516.7

Thus, Q1=1.14e7 J

Then, I need to calculate latent heat needed, which is Q2 = (2.67 x 10^5)* (16.7) = 0.44584 x 10^7

So, the total heat needed is: Q1+Q2=1.55x10^7 J. I also got 1.58x10^7 on my second try.

But neither are the right answer. What did I do wrong?
 
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  • #2
Anony-mouse said:

Homework Statement


How much heat is needed to melt 16.7 kg of iron that is initially at 21.3°C?

Homework Equations


Q=m*c*ΔT + mL

The Attempt at a Solution


here: m=16.7kg, c=0.45kJ/kg*K, and ΔT=1538-21.3=1516.7

Thus, Q1=1.14e7 J

Then, I need to calculate latent heat needed, which is Q2 = (2.67 x 10^5)* (16.7) = 0.44584 x 10^7

So, the total heat needed is: Q1+Q2=1.55x10^7 J. I also got 1.58x10^7 on my second try.

But neither are the right answer. What did I do wrong?

I think Q1 is 1.14e4 J (according to my calculator).

But I found like 3 values for the latent heat of iron

Iron, gray cast 96 kJ/kg
Iron, white cast 138 kJ/kg
Iron, slag 209 kJ/kg


So not too sure which one is correct for the question.
 
  • #3
rock.freak667 said:
I think Q1 is 1.14e4 J (according to my calculator).

J or kJ?
 
  • #4
Borek said:
J or kJ?

ah didn't notice the units of c...but I'd still get the OP's answer for the 2nd try using that value of the latent heat.
 

Related to Specific/Latent Heat and Melting Iron

1. What is specific heat and how does it relate to melting iron?

Specific heat is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree. In the case of melting iron, a high specific heat means that a lot of energy is needed to increase the temperature of iron, making it more difficult to melt.

2. How does latent heat play a role in melting iron?

Latent heat is the energy required to change the state of a substance. In the case of iron, latent heat is needed to change it from a solid to a liquid state, which is necessary for melting to occur.

3. Why does iron have a high melting point?

Iron has a high melting point due to its strong metallic bonds. As a transition metal, iron has a partially filled d-orbital, which allows for strong bonding between atoms, making it more difficult to break these bonds and melt the iron.

4. Does the purity of iron affect its melting point?

Yes, the purity of iron can affect its melting point. Impurities in the iron can disrupt the metallic bonds and decrease the melting point. Therefore, purer iron will have a higher melting point compared to impure iron.

5. Can the melting point of iron be changed?

The melting point of pure iron cannot be changed. However, the addition of certain elements can affect its melting point. For example, adding carbon can lower the melting point and make the iron easier to melt, leading to the production of steel.

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