What does specific heat capacity (c) represent?

Specific heat capacity (c) is a fundamental property that indicates the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin). It is often expressed in units such as joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g°C). This concept is essential in understanding how substances respond thermally, allowing one to predict how much heat is needed to change their temperature.

The distinction of specific heat capacity as heat capacity per unit mass is crucial because it standardizes the heat capacity among substances with varying masses. This way, when comparing different materials, one can deduce how efficiently they store or release heat energy, specific to their mass, leading to practical applications in fields like calorimetry, engineering, and even meteorology.

In the context of the other options: while heat capacity is related to volume or moles of a substance, specific heat capacity specifically relates to a mass-based perspective. The heat required to change the state of a substance refers to latent heat, which is different from the heat capacity topic presented. Therefore, understanding specific heat capacity as a mass-based heat storage property allows for accurate applications and calculations in thermodynamic processes.