Specific Heat Calculator: Find Q = mcΔT

Solve For:

By:

Change of temperature (ΔT) Initial & Final temperature

Heat Energy (Q):

J ▾

Initial temperature:

°C ▾

Final temperature:

°C ▾

Change of temperature (ΔT):

°C ▾

Mass (m):

kg ▾

Specific heat capacity (c):

J/(kg·K) ▾

Substance:

This Specific Heat Calculator finds the heat energy, specific heat capacity, mass, or temperature change of a substance. It uses the heat transfer equation to determine any missing value when the other variables are known. The calculator also helps users understand how these variables are related and provides a clear, step-by-step breakdown of the calculation. With this tool, solving specific heat problems becomes easier and more straightforward.

What is Specific Heat?

Specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance (such as 1 gram or 1 kilogram) by 1 degree Celsius or 1 Kelvin.

Note: The temperature should change without changing the substance's state. For Example, when heating water, it should remain a liquid and not boil.

Specific Heat Formula:

The specific heat formula is:

Q = m × c × ΔT

Formula Parts

Q = Heat energy added to or removed from the substance
m = Mass of the substance
c = Specific heat capacity of the substance
ΔT = Change in temperature, calculated as (T_f − T_i)
T_f = Final temperature
T_i = Initial temperature

The heat transfer equation can be rearranged in different ways to calculate any unknown parameter. Here are the rearranged formulas:

▸ To find the specific heat capacity (c):

c = Q / (m × ΔT)

▸ To find the mass (m):

m = Q / (c × ΔT)

▸ To find the change in temperature (ΔT):

ΔT = Q / (m × c)

How to Use This Specific Heat Calculator?

To use this online calculator, follow the simple steps below:

Select what you want to calculate: Heat Energy, Specific Heat Capacity, Mass, Initial Temperature, or Final Temperature.
Enter the known values and select their units.
Click “CALCULATE” to get the missing value with a step-by-step solution.

Optional: Select a substance to find its standard specific heat capacity.

How to Calculate Specific Heat?

To calculate the specific heat of a substance, follow the given steps:

Step 1: Find the Heat Energy (Q)

Find how much energy the substance absorbed (+ Q) or lost (- Q)

For Example: Let’s suppose a 50 g piece of an unknown metal absorbs 350 J of heat as its temperature rises from 20°C to 50°C.

Since the metal absorbs heat, the heat energy is positive. Q = 350 J

Step 2: Find the Mass (m)

Weigh the sample to get its total mass in grams or kilograms.

The sample's mass is given as m = 50 g

Step 3: Calculate the Temperature Change (ΔT)

Subtract the initial temperature from the final: (ΔT = Tf − Ti)

A positive ΔT means the substance warmed up, and a negative ΔT means it cooled down.

The temperature rises from 20°C to 50°C, so change in temperature will be:

ΔT = 50°C − 20°C

ΔT = 30°C

Step 4: Solve for Specific Heat

Multiply mass by temperature change, then divide the heat energy (Q) by that result, as:

c = Q / (m · ΔT)

= 350 / (50 · 30)

= 350 / 1500

≈ 0.233 J/(g·°C)

If you have a specific problem to solve, just enter your known values into this specific heat capacity calculator, and let it calculate the answer for you.

Specific Heat Reference Chart:

The following table provides specific heat capacity values of common materials.

Substance / Material	Specific Heat (J/kg·K)	Substance / Material	Specific Heat (J/kg·K)
Acetals (Solid)	1500	Air (Gas (Room conditions))	1005
Air (Sea level - dry (0°C))	1003	Aluminum (Solid)	900
Ammonia (Liquid)	4700	Animal tissue (Mixed)	3500
Antimony (Solid)	210	Argon (Gas)	520
Arsenic (Solid)	330	Asphalt	920
Beryllium	1825	Bismuth	122
Brick	840	Cadmium	232
Carbon Dioxide (Gas)	846	Chromium (Solid)	448
Concrete	880	Copper	385
Diamond	509	Ethanol (Liquid)	2440
Gasoline (octane)	2220	Glass (Solid)	840
Glass, crown	670	Glass, flint	503
Glass, pyrex	753	Gold	129
Granite	790	Graphite	710
Gypsum	1090	Helium (Gas)	5193
Hydrogen	14300	Hydrogen sulfide	1015
Iron	450	Lead (Solid)	128
Lithium	3582	Lithium (at 181°C)	4178
Magnesium (Solid)	1023	Marble, mica	880
Mercury (Liquid)	140	Methane (at 2°C)	2220
Methanol (Liquid)	2530	Molten salt (Liquid)	1500
Neon (Gas)	1030	Nitrogen (Gas)	1040
Oxygen (Gas)	918	Paraffin wax (Solid)	2100
Polyethylene	2300	Sand	830
Silica (fused)	703	Silver	235
Sodium	1230	Soil	1300
Steel	490	Tin	228
Titanium	523	Tungsten	134
Uranium	116	Water (ice, at -10°C)	2108
Water (at 25°C)	4184	Water (at 100°C)	2080
Wood (1200 to 2900)	1700	Zinc (Solid)	388

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does the specific heat capacity equation Q = mcΔT mean?

This is a specific heat equation that calculates the heat energy transferred (Q) during a temperature change without changing its physics state.

Can the specific heat calculator handle phase changes?

It can’t handle the phase changes as it works based on the specific heat capacity formula Q = m c ΔT. This formula applies to the temperature changes within a single physical state.

Should ΔT be in °C or K?

ΔT can either be a unit of temperature in °C or K, because a temperature change in °C is numerically identical to a temperature change in 1 K.

How do you find the temperature change in a specific heat calculation?

To find the temperature change in a specific heat calculation, divide the heat energy by the product of mass and specific heat capacity. The formula is:

ΔT = q / m x c

What is the specific heat of water?

The specific heat capacity of water is approximately 4.184 J/g°C (or 4,184 J/kg·K).

Can specific heat capacity be negative?

No, specific heat capacity is always a positive value as it indicates the rise of temperature in per unit mass of a substance. So specific heat energy is always positive regardless of whether the energy is being added or removed.

What are the common metric units used for specific heat?

The most common metric units used for the specific heat capacity are Joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C) or Joules per kilogram per Kelvin (J/kg·K).

References:

For more details, see Specific Heat Capacity - Wikipedia.

britannica.com - Specific-Heat.