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Molar Heat CapacityExplained in Simple Words

By ScienceABCFrom BoclipsSeptember 30, 2025

Heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a given mass of a substance by one unit. Specific heat capacity and molar heat capacity are properties derived from the heat capacity of a material.

Specific heat is defined as the amount of heat required to raise one unit of mass of the substance by 1 unit of temperature. On the other hand, molar heat capacity is defined as the amount of heat required to raise 1 mole of a substance by 1 Kelvin. Like specific heat, molar heat capacity is an intensive property, i.e., it doesnt vary with the amount of substance.

The heat capacity of a substance determines where and when it can be used. For example, the handles of utensils are manufactured from materials with a high heat capacity to ensure the users safety. On the other hand, thermometers are manufactured from materials with a low specific heat capacity to detect even the smallest temperature fluctuations.

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