Question

order the following in the order of increasing energy required to heat up 1 g by 1 k.
element | specific heat capacity (j/g·k)
aluminum | 0.897
cadmium | 0.232
calcium | 0.647
carbon | 0.709
chromium | 0.449
copper | 0.385
gold | 0.129
iron | 0.449
lead | 0.160
neon | 1.030
nickel | 0.444
platinum | 0.133
silicon | 0.705
silver | 0.235
water | 4.184
zinc | 0.388

Explanation:

Step1: Relate energy to specific heat

Energy $Q = mc\Delta T$. For $m=1g$, $\Delta T=1K$, $Q=c$. So order by $c$.

Step2: Sort specific heat values

List values: Gold(0.129) < Platinum(0.133) < Lead(0.160) < Cadmium(0.232) < Silver(0.235) < Nickel(0.444) < Chromium/Iron(0.449) < Copper(0.385)? No, correct order: 0.129(Gold) < 0.133(Platinum) < 0.160(Lead) < 0.232(Cadmium) < 0.235(Silver) < 0.385(Copper) < 0.388(Zinc) < 0.444(Nickel) < 0.449(Chromium/Iron) < 0.647(Calcium) < 0.705(Silicon) < 0.709(Carbon) < 0.897(Aluminum) < 1.030(Neon) < 4.184(Water)

Step3: Finalize increasing order

Arrange elements by sorted $c$ values.

Answer:

Gold < Platinum < Lead < Cadmium < Silver < Copper < Zinc < Nickel < Chromium = Iron < Calcium < Silicon < Carbon < Aluminum < Neon < Water