Final answer:
Heat capacity is the quantity of heat that a body absorbs or releases when it experiences a temperature change. It is an extensive property and can be calculated by dividing the amount of heat by the temperature change. The specific heat capacity is the heat capacity divided by the mass of the substance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heat capacity (C) is the quantity of heat (q) that a body of matter absorbs or releases when it experiences a temperature change (ΔT) of 1 degree Celsius (or equivalently, 1 kelvin). It is an extensive property, meaning it depends on the amount of substance. The heat capacity can be calculated by dividing the amount of heat absorbed or released by the temperature change: C = q/ΔT.
For example, if a substance has a heat capacity of 50 J/°C, it means that 50 joules of heat energy are required to raise the temperature of the substance by 1°C. Similarly, if 100 joules of heat energy are released by the substance, its temperature will decrease by 2°C.
The specific heat capacity is a related concept and is defined as the heat capacity divided by the mass of the substance. It represents the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of the substance by 1°C.