Question

What is the heat capacity of water?

Answer 1

It depends on the temperature...

Chemists say the isobaric, mass heat capacity is `~~4.184 J/(g*K)` (because we like `25^@ "C"`), and physicists say it is `~~4.186 J/(g*K)` (because they like `20^@ "C"`).

An easy way out of this is to just say `1 (cal)/(g*K)`, since 1 calorie raises one gram of water by `1^oC`, or `1K` (same interval).

I tend to use `4.184 J/(g*K)` as a chemist, but whatever the case, if you use a specific one, know what temperature you are at.