Temperature increase causes material to increase random translational kinetic energy and so absorb heat {heat capacity}|. Material can absorb heat and gain random translational kinetic energy, so temperature rises. Heat capacity is heat needed to raise one gram of material one degree Celsius. Heat H equals mass m times heat capacity c times temperature change T: H = m * c * T.
factors
Heat capacity depends on material type. Chemicals can hold more or less heat depending on possible electric dipole states. Metal atoms have no vibrations and rotations. Metals have low heat capacity, because all heat goes into random translational motion, rather than into vibrations or rotations. Diatomic molecules are linear molecules. Diatomic molecules have medium heat capacity, because they have few vibrations and rotations. Water is triatomic, is asymmetric, and has hydrogen bonds between molecules. Water has high heat capacity. Large complex molecules in gasoline, clays, and ceramics have high heat capacity. Crystal structure can have chemical bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, or ionic bonds, allowing many vibration modes and high heat capacity.
material heat capacity divided by water heat capacity {specific heat}|.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225