Calorimetry Calculator

Calculate heat transfer q using q = mc times delta T. Find heat absorbed or released given mass, specific heat capacity, and temperature change for any substance.

🌡️ Thermochemistry📐 q = mcΔT🧪 Chemistry
Mass m (g)
Specific heat c (J/g·°C)
Temperature change ΔT (°C)
Please enter valid values.

Formula & Reference

VariableSymbolFormulaUnits
Calorimetry CalculatorSee formulaq = mcΔTJ or kJ

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1
Heating Water

100 g water heated from 20.0 C to 35.0 C. c=4.184 J/g-C.

  • q = 100.0 x 4.184 x (35.0-20.0)
  • q = 100.0 x 4.184 x 15.0 = 6276 J = 6.28 kJ
✓ q = 6276 J = 6.28 kJ absorbed
Example 2
Cooling Copper

150 g copper (c=0.385 J/g-C) cools from 95.0 C to 25.0 C.

  • dT = 25.0-95.0 = -70.0 C
  • q = 150 x 0.385 x (-70.0) = -4042.5 J
✓ -4042.5 J heat released
Example 3
Bomb Calorimeter

Combustion heats 500 g water by how much if 25 kJ released?

  • q_water = 25000 J
  • 25000 = 500 x 4.184 x dT
  • dT = 25000/2092 = 11.95 C
✓ Water temperature rises 11.95 C

Real-World Applications

🌡️
Coffee Cup Calorimetry
Simple lab calorimetry for reactions in solution.
💣
Bomb Calorimetry
Combustion reactions measured at constant volume in sealed vessel.
🍿
Food Science
Caloric content of food determined by combustion calorimetry.
🧪
Specific Heat Measurement
Drop hot metal in water to find specific heat from q(metal) = -q(water).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

⚠️
Sign of dT

Rising temperature: dT > 0 (endothermic). Falling temperature: dT < 0 (exothermic).

⚠️
Units of specific heat

J/g-C or J/g-K (same value since delta-K = delta-C). Water = 4.184 J/g-C.

⚠️
Heat capacity vs specific heat

Specific heat c is per gram. Heat capacity C = mass x c is for the whole object.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is specific heat? ▾
Energy to raise 1 gram by 1 degree C. Water=4.184, ethanol=2.44, copper=0.385, aluminum=0.900, iron=0.449 J/g-C.
Why is water an excellent coolant? ▾
High specific heat (4.184 J/g-C) means water absorbs large heat with small temperature rise. Also high heat of vaporization.
How does bomb calorimetry work? ▾
Sample burned in sealed oxygen vessel in water bath. Measure water dT to find heat of combustion via q=mcdT.
How do I find specific heat experimentally? ▾
Heat metal to known T, drop into water at known T, measure final T. q(metal) = -q(water): m1c1(Tf-Ti1) = -m2c2(Tf-Ti2).
What is 1 food Calorie? ▾
1 food Calorie (Cal) = 1 kcal = 4184 J. 1 Cal raises 1 kg water by 1 C.

Related Chemistry Calculators

🔥 Enthalpy🌡️ Specific Heat⚗️ Heat of Solution🔥 Heat of Combustion🔥 Hess Law

Formula Explorer connections

Interpretation: This relationship tracks energy transfer, state-function change or the balance between enthalpy and entropy in a chemical process. Assumption: Keep energy units compatible, use kelvin for absolute temperature, and match standard states and reaction stoichiometry. Thermodynamic favorability does not determine reaction speed.

Bomb Calorimeter Calculator →Exothermic vs Endothermic Predictor →Enthalpy Calculator →Chemistry Formula Explorer →