A 25-g block of iron at 175°C is dropped into a liter of water in an insulated flask at 20°C and 1 atm. The specific enthalpy of iron is given by the expression H(J/g)= 17.3T(°C).
(a) What reference temperature was used as the basis for the enthalpy formula?
(b) Calculate the final temperature of the flask contents, assuming that the process is adiabatic, negligible evaporation of water occurs, negligible heat is transferred to the flask wall, and the specific enthalpy of liquid water at 1 atm and a given temperature is that of the saturated liquid at the same temperature.
(c) If some of the water in the flask evaporated on contact with the hot iron, would the final temperature in the flask be greater or less than the value you calculated in Part (b)? Explain your answer.