Answer to Question #133310 in General Chemistry for Tatiana

Question

Metal A has a heat capacity of 0.450 J/g°C while metal B has a heat capacity of 1.250 J/g°C. If both metals are supplied with 1000.0 J of energy, which one will heat up more? Explain by describing what specific heat capacity defines (i.e. more than "this number is bigger/smaller").

Answer 1

The specific heat capacity of a material is the energy required to raise one kilogram (kg) of the material by one degree Celsius (°C). If one is 0.450 it will take less energy to overcome the threshold compared to 1.250. So 0.450 will have more energy to heat up more (if the same amount of energy is added)

If however both had been raised to the same temp then the 1.250 will hold the energy longer.