Specific heat

Specific heat, warmth required to raise the temperature of 1 kg (2.2 lb) of a substance through 1 kelvin; measured by calorimetry. The concept was introduced in 1760 by Joseph Black (1728–99). Subsequently, P. L. Dulong and A. T. Petit evolved a law in 1819 showing that the specific heat of elements is inversely proportional to their atomic weights, which could thus be roughly determined, and the product of the atomic weight and the specific heat is a constant for all solid elements.

See also: Black, Joseph.