What is the specific heat capacity of water?

Water has an unusually high specific heat capacity of approximately 4,184 J per kg per degree C (or 4.184 kJ/kg C). This means water can absorb a large amount of heat for each degree of temperature rise, which is why it is so effective as a coolant and why oceans moderate coastal climates.

What is the difference between specific heat and heat capacity?

Specific heat capacity (c) is an intrinsic property of a material: the energy needed to raise 1 kg of it by 1 degree C. Heat capacity (C = mc) is the energy needed to raise a specific object of given mass by 1 degree C. Specific heat is a material constant; heat capacity depends on the size of the object.

Specific Heat Calculator

This calculator uses the specific heat equation, Q = mc delta T, to find any one of the four variables when you know the other three. Q is heat energy transferred in Joules, m is mass in kilograms, c is the specific heat capacity of the material in J per kg per degree C, and delta T is the change in temperature in degrees Celsius. Specific heat capacity is a property of the material itself; for example, water has a high specific heat of approximately 4,184 J/kg C, meaning it takes a lot of energy to raise its temperature, while copper has a much lower value of about 385 J/kg C. You select what you want to solve for and enter the remaining three values. When solving for heat energy, you receive the result in Joules, kilojoules, and kilocalories. When solving for mass, the calculator returns kilograms. When solving for specific heat capacity, it returns J per kg per degree C. When solving for temperature change, it returns degrees Celsius. This tool is useful for chemistry and physics students studying calorimetry, engineers sizing heating and cooling systems, and home brewers or cooks calculating energy needed to heat liquids. The formula assumes no phase changes during heating; if the material melts or boils during the temperature change, latent heat must be added separately.

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Solve for

Mass (m)

Specific heat (c)

J/kg°C

Temperature change (ΔT)

°C

Heat energy (Q)

41,840 J

heat energy

Kilojoules41.84 kJ

Kilocalories10.00 kcal

How it works

The four rearrangements of the specific heat equation are: Q = mcΔT (heat energy), m = Q / (cΔT) (mass), c = Q / (mΔT) (specific heat), and ΔT = Q / (mc) (temperature change). Select what you want to find, enter the other three, and the calculator applies the correct formula. Energy in Joules is converted to kilojoules by dividing by 1,000, and to kilocalories by dividing by 4,184 (one food calorie = 4,184 J).

Worked example

You want to heat 1 kg of water (c = 4,184 J/kg°C) by 10°C. Q = 1 × 4,184 × 10 = 41,840 J = 41.84 kJ = 10.00 kcal. These match the default values pre-filled above. This is approximately the energy in 10 food calories, illustrating how energy-dense food is compared to heating water.

Related calculators

Density Calculator: find the mass of a substance from its volume and density before using it here.
Kinetic Energy Calculator: the mechanical energy equivalent for moving objects.
Potential Energy Calculator: gravitational energy stored in height.
Percent Error Calculator: assess the accuracy of your calorimetry experiment results.

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