Specific Heat Capacity v Specific Latent Heat
- The specific heat capacity and specific latent heat are slightly different, and it is important not to confuse one for the other
- Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount
- The substance will still be in the same state, just raised to a different temperature
- E.g. A liquid heated from 5 °C to 20 °C
- Specific latent heat is the amount of heat energy needed to cause a change of state, i.e. the boiling of water or the melting of ice
- The substance will be changing states, but still at the same temperature
- E.g. A liquid evaporating into a gas
Difference between specific latent heat and specific heat capacity
- The following table summaries the differences between specific heat capacity and specific latent heat:
Specific Heat Capacity vs. Specific Latent Heat Table
