When is specific heat (c) used in thermodynamics equations?

Specific heat (c) is primarily utilized in thermodynamics equations to quantify the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance without undergoing a phase change. This means that when a substance is heated—like water being warmed in a pot—its temperature increases without transitioning into a different state (i.e., solid to liquid or liquid to gas). The specific heat capacity is an essential property that indicates how much heat is needed to elevate the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin).

When applying specific heat in calculations, the equation commonly used is Q = mcΔT, where Q represents the heat energy added or removed, m is the mass of the substance, c is the specific heat capacity, and ΔT is the change in temperature. This formula emphasizes how the temperature change of a material can be directly influenced by the amount of energy supplied, along with the specific heat characteristic of that material.

In contrast, phase changes involve latent heat rather than specific heat; thus, specific heat is not applied to calculate heat during these transitions. Similarly, boiling points and gas laws are determined by relating pressure, volume, temperature, and the number of moles of gases, rather than through specific heat. Therefore, the use