and is waters heat capacity high or low compared to a range of other solvents?
2007-06-16 12:04:58 · 3 answers · asked by mel s 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by 1°C. Water's heat capacity is high compared to other solvents.
2007-06-16 12:13:48 · answer #1 · answered by KM 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are confusing two concepts: Specific heat and heat capacity. The other posters are correct that heat capacity is, for example, the number of calories needed to change the temperature of a substance by 1degC. It could also be the (different) number of BTU's needed to change the temperature of a substance by 1degF. The specific heat is the ratio of the heat capacity of the substance to the heat capacity of water, which is 1cal/C-g. Sp. ht. is constant for each substance. The heat capacity of water is unusually high.
2007-06-16 12:25:20 · answer #2 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
amount of energy required to heat 1 gram of the substance by one degree. Water has a relatively high heat capacity.
2007-06-16 12:13:09 · answer #3 · answered by IamSpazzy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋