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Specific heat capacity of a substance is the quantity of heat energy needed to raise a substance's temperature per unit of mass. A material's specific heat capacity is a physical characteristic. Since its value is inversely correlated with the size of the system under study, it is also an illustration of an extended feature. The particular heat capacity of a material in thermodynamics is equal to the heat capacity of a sample of the substance divided by the mass of the sample; this characteristic is also known as massic heat capacity.
The amount of heat per unit mass required for a temperature increase of one degree Celsius is known as the specific heat. The structure that appeared beneath, where c represents specific heat, is often used to express the relationship between heat and temperature change.
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KeyTerms: Specific heat capacity, Latent heat, Temperature, Massic heat, Celsius, Phase change
Specific Heat
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The term "specific heat" can also refer to the proportion of a substance's specific heat capacities to those of a reference substance at a certain temperature, such as water at 15 °C.
- The quantity of heat required to increase a substance's temperature by one degree Celsius in one gramme, also known as specific heat.
- Units of specific heat are frequently employed, such as calories or joules per gramme per degree Celsius.
In-depth measurements of heat capacity with different denominators are connected to specific heat capacity as well. In General, it is the amount of heat that must be added to one unit of a substance's mass in order to raise its temperature by one unit.
Specific Heat Capacity Formula
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Q = C m △t
where,
Q = quantity of heat absorbed by a body
m = mass of the body
△t = Rise in temperature
C = Specific heat capacity of a substance depends on the nature of the material of the substance.
The S.I unit of specific heat is J kg-1 K-1.
Specific Heat Capacity Video Explanation
Unit of Specific Heat Capacity
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The unit of specific heat is J kg-1 K-1.
Read more:
| Relevant Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metals & Non-metals | Types of energy | Vapor Pressure |
| Atomic & Molecular masses | Calorimeter Formula | Thermal energy |
Dimensional Formula of Specific Heat
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The dimensional formula of Specific Heat Capacity is given by,
M0 L2 T-2 K-1
where,
- M = Mass
- K = Temperature
- L = Length
- T = Time
Specific Latent Heat Formula
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Latent heat is the energy needed to change a solid into a fluid or gaseous state, or a liquid into a gaseous form.
- On the basis of the many phases, it receives heat in the form of condensation, vaporization, and other forms.
- The energy that a substance uses or releases during a phase shift is known as latent heat. It could be a change from a gaseous phase or a significant shift and return.
- Latent heat is associated with the enthalpy of heat.
The latent heat Formula is as follows:
L = Q/M
where,
L = a substance’s specific latent heat
Q = quantity of heat
M = the substance’s mass
Specific Heat Examples
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Ques. If the 129 J/kg.k specific heat of gold. So how much heat energy is needed to increase the temperature of 100 g of gold by 50.0 K?
First of all, write down the things given in the question
the mass of the gold = 100 g converting it into kg, and we get 0.100 kg.
Specific heat = 129 J/kg⋅k
Temperature = 50.0 K
Ans. Q = mcΔT
Q = (0.100 kg) (129 J/kg⋅k) (50.0 K)
So, the energy required to raise the temperature of 100 g gold is 645 J.
Ques. Let's say that 1676 KJ of heat energy are used to warm the water in a saucepan. Find the specific heat of water if there are 5.000 kg of water in the pot and the temperature is raised by 80.0 K.
Ans. Let’s write down the things given in the question
Mass (m) = 5.00 kg
Temperature (T) = 80.0 K
Specific heat (c) = 1676 KJ
Now we have to convert the specific heat into Joules because it is in Kilojoules.
So, the conversion is like this
1 KJ = 1,000 J
so, 1676 KJ = 1,000 × 1676 = 16, 76,000 J
Now put all the values in the formula. But, before that, we have to reorganize the formula to find specific heat.
Q = mcΔT → c = QmΔT
Now putting values in the rearranged formula
C = 1676000(5.00kg) (80.0)
C = 4190 J/kg⋅k
Hence, the specific heat of water is 4190 J/kg⋅k.
Read more: Heat Transfer
Things to remember
- The term "specific heat" can also be used to describe the ratio between a material's specific heat capacities at a certain temperature and those of a reference substance at a reference temperature, such as water at 15 °C. This is similar to the definition of specific gravity.
- Specific Heat Capacity Formula
Q = C m△t
- The dimensional formula of Specific Heat Capacity:
- M0 L2 T-2 K-1
- The energy required to transform a solid into a liquid or gaseous state, or a liquid into a gaseous form, is known as latent heat.
- The three variables that affect transferred heat are the change in temperature, the system mass, and the phase of a substance.
- For a mass that has been doubled to experience an equivalent temperature change, heat must be added. Water has a greater specific heat capacity than metal.
- Water has a specific heat capacity of 4.2 joules per gramme per degree Celsius.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the difference between heat capacity and specific heat capacity? (2 marks)
Ans. A substance's specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise its temperature by one degree Celsius. Similarly, a substance's heat capacity is determined by the relationship between the amount of energy applied to it and the resulting rise in temperature.
Ques. How do you calculate the Specific Heat Capacity? (2 marks)
Ans. If ΔQ is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of mass m through ΔT, then the formula for specific heat is:
C = ΔQ ⁄ m ΔT
Or
ΔQ = m c ΔT
Ques. What is the SI unit of Specific Heat Capacity? (1 mark)
Ans. It is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of 1 kg of liquid or solid by 1 K in SI units. Its SI unit is always J kg-1 K-1. And its CGS unit is always Cal g-1 C-1
Ques. Why is the warmth or heat capacity of water above metal? (1 mark)
Ans. This is due to the metal spoon's far lower heat efficiency compared to the soup's liquid. Water has the highest heat capacity of any liquid.
Ques. What is the difference between heat capacity and warmth capacity? (2 marks)
Ans. The amount of heat required to raise a substance's temperature by one degree Celsius is known as its specific heat capacity. Similar to energy capacity, heat capacity measures how much energy a substance can hold before its temperature rises as a result.
Ques. Which are the advantages of water’s heat capacity? (2 marks)
Ans. The greater heat capacity of water means that raising the temperature by one degree requires more energy. Our sun radiates energy at a lower or even higher steady level, which heats the sand and water more quickly.
Ques. Does specific heat capacity depend on sample size? (2 marks)
Ans. Two grams of liquid water have twice the heat capacity of one gramme, but the specific heat capacity, or the heat capacity per gramme, is the same at 4.184 (J/g.K). The specific heat capacity is intensive and independent of quantity, whereas the heat capacity is widespread.
Ques. What is the symbol of specific heat capacity? (1 mark)
Ans. C = A substance's specific heat capacity is determined by the material it is made of. J kg-1 K-1 is the SI unit of specific heat.
Ques. Where is specific heat capacity used? (1 mark)
Ans. The construction industry typically uses the specific heat capacity of solids to evaluate the behavior of building materials.
Ques. What instrument is used to measure specific heat capacity? (1 mark)
Ans. A calorimeter is a device that measures an object or material's total heat capacity, latent heat capacity, and specific heat capacity.
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