Specific Heat
Definition
How much heat it takes to raise 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. Water's unusually high specific heat is why oceans moderate climate.
Symbol: · Unit: J/(g C)
Technical definition
Specific heat capacity is the heat required to raise one gram of a substance by one kelvin (q = mc deltaT). Water's 4.184 J/(g C) is exceptionally high due to hydrogen bonding, giving water a large thermal buffering effect.
Example
Heating 100 g of water by 10 C takes 4184 J, while the same mass of iron (c = 0.449) needs only 449 J. The iron gets hot far faster.
Common confusion
Specific heat is per gram; heat capacity is for the whole object. One kilogram of water and one gram of water have the same specific heat but very different heat capacities.