• id: JME-10-N07
• title: Heat, Specific Heat, and Molar Heat Capacity
• tags: calorimetry, specific-heat, heat-capacity

Heat is energy transferred due to temperature difference: $Q = mc\Delta T$. Specific heat capacity $c$ (J kg$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$) is heat needed to raise 1 kg by 1 K. Water has the highest specific heat among common substances ($c = 4186$ J kg$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$ = 1 cal g$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$). This is why water is an excellent coolant and why coastal climates are moderate. Molar heat capacity $C_m = Mc$ where $M$ is molar mass. For an ideal gas: $C_v$ and $C_p$ are molar heat capacities at constant volume and pressure, with $C_p - C_v = R$.