What is the heat capacity of water?

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Aug 5, 2015

It depends on the temperature...

Chemists say the isobaric, mass heat capacity is ~~4.184 J/(g*K) (because we like 25^@ "C"), and physicists say it is ~~4.186 J/(g*K) (because they like 20^@ "C").

An easy way out of this is to just say 1 (cal)/(g*K), since 1 calorie raises one gram of water by 1^oC, or 1K (same interval).

I tend to use 4.184 J/(g*K) as a chemist, but whatever the case, if you use a specific one, know what temperature you are at.

Related questions
See all questions in Defining Heat
Impact of this question
12675 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License