Heat Capacity

Definition

Heat capacity[1] refers to the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a given substance by 1.00°C. It is an extensive property, meaning it depends on both the mass and phase of the substance. The SI unit of heat capacity is J/K or Cal/K. It is expressed by the equation:

C = c . m C=c.m

where:

  • C is the heat capacity,

  • c is the specific heat capacity,

  • m is the mass of the substance.