Question

How can I calculate specific heat capacity of water?

Answer 1

To solve this question, first we have to understand the term specific heat. Specific heat capacity of a solution is defined as the heat energy which is required to raise the temperature of the system by 1 degree centigrade.

Complete step by step answer:
- The specific heat capacity is used to determine the amount of heat which will be required to raise the temperature of a system by 1 degree centigrade. Since water is the most commonly used substance which is present in the liquid state, a new unit of energy was defined known as calorie.
- A calorie is defined as the amount of heat which will be required to raise the temperature of 1 grams of water by 1 degree centigrade.
Specific heat capacity = $Q=mc\Delta T$
Where, Q = heat energy required
M = mass of the substance whose temperature is raised
C= specific heat capacity
$\Delta T$ = raise in temperature
We know that, the SI unit of heat is calorie and 1 calorie = 4.2J
The raise in temperature is 1 degree centigrade

& c=\dfrac{Q}{m\Delta T} \\\ & c=\dfrac{1cal}{1kg\times {{1}^{0}}C} \\\ & c=\dfrac{4.2J}{1kg\times {{1}^{0}}C} \\\ & c=4.2/Kg{{/}^{0}}C \\\ \end{aligned}$$ Hence, the specific heat capacity of water is 4.2J$/Kg{{/}^{0}}C$ . **Note:** The temperature can be converted into Kelvin scale, by adding 273 to it. Zero degree Celsius is equal to 273 Kelvin. The change of the state from the solid to liquid occurs due to the presence of the hyperactive atoms. The unit conversion plays a major role in such questions, if we know the unit conversion, we can calculate the value of specific heat capacity of water for different units.