Final answer:
The standard equations for calculating heat capacity are based on whether you are dealing with a per-mass or per-mole basis. For per-mass calculations, use the specific heat capacity (Cs), and for per-mole calculations, use the molar heat capacity (Cp).
Step-by-step explanation:
The standard equations for calculating the heat capacity depend on whether you are dealing with a substance on a per-mass basis or a per-mole basis. On a per-mass basis, the specific heat capacity (Cs) is used and is defined as the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. The equation for calculating heat capacity (C) on a per-mass basis is:
C = m * Cs
On a per-mole basis, the molar heat capacity (Cp) is used and is defined as the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 mole of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. The equation for calculating heat capacity on a per-mole basis is:
C = n * Cp