Which statement best defines the specific heat capacity of a given sample?

• A. It is the amount of heat released when 1 mole of the sample is cooled by 1 degree Celsius.
• B. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of the entire sample by 1 degree Celsius.
• C. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of the sample by 1 degree Celsius.
• D. It is the total heat content of the sample at a given temperature.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that specific heat capacity is a property that describes how much heat energy is needed to change the temperature of a substance.
2. Recall that specific heat capacity is defined per unit mass, typically per gram, which distinguishes it from molar heat capacity or total heat content.
3. Recognize that the specific heat capacity tells us the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of exactly 1 gram of the substance by 1 degree Celsius (or 1 Kelvin).
4. Note that this is different from the heat required to raise the temperature of the entire sample, which depends on the sample's total mass.
5. Therefore, the best definition among the options is the one that specifies heat required per gram per degree Celsius, which matches the concept of specific heat capacity.