Specific heat capacity
= the energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.
- the higher the specific heat capacity, the more energy it takes to change a substances temperature.

To calculate the amount of heat gained or lost:
q = mcΔT

q = the heat gained or lost (Joules)
m = mass (grams)
c = specific heat capacity (J/g^oC)
ΔT = change in temperature (^oC)

Practice: An 18.0g piece of an unidentified metal was heated from 21.5^oC to 89.0^oC. If 292 J of heat energy was absorbed by the metal in the heating process, what was the identity of the metal?

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Hint #1

q = 292 J
m = 18.0g
ΔT = 67.5^oC

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Hint #2

q = mcΔT
292 J = (18.0g)(c)(67.5^oC)
c = 0.24 J/g^oC

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Check Your Answer

So the metal must be silver.