What units do we use for mass when calculating specific heat capacity? Specific heat capacity is measured in J/kg ºC.

When calculating specific heat capacity, the mass is typically measured in kilograms (kg). Specific heat capacity itself is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass (1 kg) of a substance by one degree Celsius (1 ºC).

Hence, the formula for specific heat capacity ($c$) can be expressed as:

$c = \frac{Q}{m \Delta T}$

where:

• $Q$ is the heat added or removed (in Joules, J),
• $m$ is the mass of the substance (in kilograms, kg),
• $\Delta T$ is the change in temperature (in degrees Celsius, °C).

In summary, while specific heat capacity is measured in joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg·°C), the mass used in these calculations is always in kilograms (kg).