What is the specific heat of water?

The specific heat of water is commonly known to be 4.18 joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/(g x °C)). This value represents the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Water has a high specific heat capacity, which is important for various biological and environmental processes. Its high specific heat allows water to absorb a significant amount of heat without experiencing a large increase in temperature, which is crucial for maintaining stable temperatures in living organisms and in habitats.

The option stating 1 cal/(g x °C) can also be considered correct as 1 calorie is approximately equal to 4.184 joules; however, when it comes to the most commonly accepted value in scientific contexts, 4.18 J/(g x °C) is typically used and recognized, especially for use in calculations involving heat transfer.

Thus, the specific heat of water signifies its ability to stabilize temperatures and is a fundamental concept in both chemistry and physics.