Specific heat capacity

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Specific heat capacity

Specific heat capacity (pronunciation: /spɪˈsɪfɪk hiːt kəˈpæsɪti/), also known simply as specific heat, is a property of material that describes how much heat energy is needed to raise the temperature of a certain amount of the material by a certain amount.

The term originates from the Latin specificus meaning "particular" and the Greek kapacitas meaning "capacity".

Definition

Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius. The unit of specific heat in the International System of Units (SI) is joule per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C).

Calculation

The specific heat capacity of a substance can be calculated using the formula:

q = mcΔT

where:

  • q is the heat energy absorbed or released by the substance (in joules),
  • m is the mass of the substance (in grams),
  • c is the specific heat capacity of the substance (in J/g°C), and
  • ΔT is the change in temperature of the substance (in degrees Celsius).

Related terms

  • Heat capacity: The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of an entire object or system by one degree Celsius. Unlike specific heat capacity, heat capacity depends on the amount of substance present.
  • Thermal conductivity: A measure of a material's ability to conduct heat. It is inversely related to specific heat capacity: materials with high specific heat capacities tend to have low thermal conductivities, and vice versa.
  • Calorimetry: The science of measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes. Calorimetry experiments often involve measuring changes in temperature to calculate specific heat capacities.

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