Specific heat of water

Definition

The quantity of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit, equal to 1.0 BTU per pound per degree F. It is higher than almost any common substance.

Water absorbs sensible heat grudgingly, resisting temperature change because of its hydrogen bonding. Cooling systems exploit that stubbornness to absorb and transport heat, while boilers must pay the cost to heat every pound of makeup water. Losing hot condensate forces the system to reheat large volumes from ambient temperature, wasting energy.

Related concepts

Latent Heat of Vaporization · Condensate Energy Value · Sensible Heat

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🔥 thermodynamics