J/g°C Specific Heat Capacity Calculator

Formula used

This tool converts specific heat capacity through a single base unit: J/(g·°C). Temperature differences in K and °C are equivalent in size.

How to use

1. Enter the specific heat capacity value you have.
2. Select the unit of your input value.
3. Pick decimal precision, then press Convert.
4. Review the conversion table shown above the form.
5. Use Download CSV or Download PDF for sharing.

Example data table

Typical specific heat capacity values (approximate) are shown for reference.

Guide: Understanding J/(g·°C) conversions

1) What J/(g·°C) represents

Specific heat capacity tells how much energy is needed to raise temperature. In J/(g·°C), the value means joules required to warm one gram by one Celsius degree. Water is about 4.184, so 1 g of water needs 4.184 J for a 1 °C rise.

2) Why °C and K share the same step size

A temperature difference of 1 K equals a difference of 1 °C. That is why J/(kg·K) and J/(kg·°C) behave the same for changes, even though their zero points differ. The calculator uses this equivalence to simplify heat-capacity conversions.

3) Mass scaling: grams and kilograms

Mass units change by factors of 1000. Converting from J/(kg·K) to J/(g·°C) divides by 1000. Example: 4184 J/(kg·K) becomes 4.184 J/(g·°C). This is common when moving between engineering tables and lab measurements.

4) Calories and joules, with a fixed factor

Many references still use calories. The thermochemical calorie uses 1 cal = 4.184 J. If a material is 0.214 cal/(g·°C), it equals about 0.214 × 4.184 = 0.895 J/(g·°C). The tool applies this factor consistently for both directions.

5) Interpreting BTU/(lb·°F)

HVAC and older US data often appears in BTU/(lb·°F). This unit combines energy, mass, and Fahrenheit difference. The conversion uses 1 BTU = 1055.05585262 J, 1 lb = 453.59237 g, and 1 °F difference = 5/9 °C difference. These constants keep the result traceable.

6) Electrical energy view: Wh/(kg·K)

If your data comes from heaters and power logs, Wh-based units can help. Since 1 Wh = 3600 J, Wh/(kg·K) converts to J/(g·°C) by multiplying by 3600 and dividing by 1000. For example, 0.30 Wh/(kg·K) is about 1.08 J/(g·°C).

7) Typical ranges you can sanity-check

Many metals fall between 0.35 and 0.95 J/(g·°C): copper is near 0.385 and aluminum is near 0.897. Rocks are often around 0.7 to 0.9. Liquid water near room temperature sits around 4.184, so values far above 1 usually indicate liquids or moisture-rich materials.

8) Using precision without hiding errors

Higher precision is useful for intermediate calculations, but it does not improve input accuracy. If your source value is rounded, keep output rounding similar to avoid false certainty. For reporting, 3–4 decimals works well for J/(g·°C), while J/(kg·K) often uses whole numbers.

FAQs

1) Is J/(g·°C) the same as kJ/(kg·K)?

Yes. A 1000× mass change cancels a 1000× energy prefix, so 1 J/(g·°C) equals 1 kJ/(kg·K). Temperature step size is the same for °C and K.

2) Why do °C and K conversions look identical here?

This calculator converts temperature differences, not absolute temperatures. A 1 K rise equals a 1 °C rise, so specific heat capacity uses the same step size in both scales.

3) Which calorie does the calculator use?

It uses the thermochemical calorie, defined as 4.184 joules. This constant is widely used in engineering and chemistry tables for heat-capacity conversions.

4) Can I convert from BTU/(lb·°F) accurately?

Yes. The tool applies standard constants for BTU, pound, and Fahrenheit temperature step. Results are suitable for calculations, provided your source BTU definition matches common IT usage.

5) What does a higher specific heat capacity imply?

Higher values mean a material absorbs more energy for the same temperature change. Water’s high value helps stabilize temperature, while many metals heat and cool faster due to lower values.

6) How should I choose decimal precision?

Match your source accuracy. If your input has two or three significant decimals, choose 3–4 output decimals. Too many decimals can imply unrealistic certainty.

7) Does this work for phase changes like melting?

No. Phase change energy uses latent heat, not specific heat capacity. Use this calculator for sensible heating or cooling where temperature changes without changing phase.