What is specific heat capacity?

Specific heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin). This concept is specifically useful in understanding how different materials respond to the addition of heat.

When you consider a mass of 1.0 gram of a substance, the specific heat capacity quantifies the energy necessary to increase its temperature by 1°C. This property varies for different materials, as each substance has unique bonding and molecular interactions that affect how much energy is needed to change its temperature. For example, water has a high specific heat capacity, which means it requires more heat to increase its temperature compared to metals.

Other options refer to different thermal concepts. Heating a large volume of a substance involves factors like its mass and specific heat but does not define specific heat capacity itself. The heat required for a phase change refers to the latent heat, not related to temperature change per unit mass. Similarly, the energy required to change a substance from liquid to gas involves latent heat of vaporization, another concept completely distinct from specific heat capacity.