Question

$1$kg of iron at ${100}^o$C can melt more ice than $1$kg of copper at same temperature. Explain. ($S_{I}ron$ $=0.117$cal $g^{-1}$ ${}^o{C}^{-1}$; $s_{copper}=0.093$cal $g^{-1}{}^o{C}^{-1}$).

Answer 1

Heat capacity is defined as the “amount of heat required to raise the whole mass by 1°C" and heat capacity = mass$\times$specific heat.

Hence we can see that specific heat is directly proportional to heat capacity. Hence more the specific heat more the heat capacity and hence it iron can melt more ice than copper at same temperature.