Heat Capacity Calculator — Q = mcΔT
Calculate the heat energy (Q) absorbed or released when a material changes temperature. Select a material from the built-in list of 14 common substances or enter a custom specific heat capacity.
g
Material
°C
°C
Heat absorbed by the material
- 1
Temperature change (ΔT = T₂ − T₁)
100 − 20 = 80 - 2
Mass × specific heat (m × c)
100 × 4.182 = 418.2 - 3
Heat energy Q = (m × c) × ΔT
418.2 × 80 = 33,456Positive Q = heat absorbed by the material; negative Q = heat released.
How does this calculator work?
Q = m × c × ΔT calculates heat energy (Joules) from mass (g), specific heat capacity (J/g·°C), and temperature change (°C). Water has a high c of 4.182 J/(g·°C); metals are much lower (copper 0.385, gold 0.129). Positive Q = heat absorbed; negative Q = heat released. Does not apply to phase transitions.
Formula
How this is calculated
The specific heat capacity (c) of a material is the energy required to raise 1 gram of it by 1 degree Celsius. Water has one of the highest specific heats of common substances at 4.182 J/(g·°C), which is why it is an excellent coolant and why oceans moderate coastal climates. Metals like gold (0.129 J/(g·°C)) and copper (0.385 J/(g·°C)) have much lower specific heats and therefore heat and cool far more quickly for the same energy input.
The formula Q = m × c × ΔT gives the total heat energy transferred when mass m changes temperature by ΔT. A positive Q means the material absorbs heat (temperature rises); a negative Q means it releases heat. The result is in Joules; the calculator also shows kilojoules and kilocalories (dietary Calories use the latter unit, where 1 kcal = 4184 J).
The specific heat values provided are for the substances at approximately 25°C and standard pressure (NIST WebBook / CRC Handbook). Note that c varies with temperature — significantly so for gases and near phase transitions (for example, ice has a different c from liquid water). For phase transitions themselves (melting, boiling), you need the latent heat formula Q = m × L instead.
Frequently asked questions
Water molecules form strong hydrogen bonds that store significant vibrational energy. Raising the temperature of water requires breaking many of these bonds, so more energy is needed per gram per degree than for most other substances. This high specific heat makes water critical for biological temperature regulation.
Specific heat capacity (c) is an intrinsic material property — the energy per gram per degree Celsius. Heat capacity (C) for a particular object equals c × m (mass), giving the total energy needed to raise that specific sample by 1°C. This calculator uses specific heat capacity (c) with mass as a separate input.
No — this formula (Q = mcΔT) applies only to temperature changes within a single phase. During a phase transition, temperature stays constant while latent heat is absorbed or released. For melting ice or boiling water, use Q = m × L, where L is the latent heat of fusion or vaporisation.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Heat Capacity Calculator — Q = mcΔT [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/heat-capacity-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Heat Capacity Calculator — Q = mcΔT." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/heat-capacity-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Heat Capacity Calculator — Q = mcΔT," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/heat-capacity-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_heat_capacity_calculator, title = {Heat Capacity Calculator — Q = mcΔT}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/heat-capacity-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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