A 71.0 mL sample of 1.0 M NaOH is mixed with 42.0 mL of 1.0 M H2SO4 in a large Styrofoam coffee cup; the cup is fitted with a lid through which passes a calibrated thermometer. The temperature of each solution before mixing is 19.1°C. After adding the NaOH solution to the coffee cup, the mixed solutions are stirred until reaction is complete. Assume that the density of the mixed solutions is 1.0 g/mL, that the specific heat of the mixed solutions is 4.18 J/(g •°C), and that no heat is lost to the surroundings. The ΔΗrxn for the neutralization of NaOH with H2SO4 is –114 kJ/mol H2SO4.
What is the maximum temperature in the cup?