The calorie per gram-Kelvin expresses specific heat in traditional calorie units; water's specific heat is defined as exactly 1 cal/(g·K).
The calorie's historical definition is based on water's heating capacity, and this unit remains common in chemistry and nutrition science.
Measurement system: Non-SI, traditional unit. SI equivalent: 1 cal/(g·K) = 4.184 J/(kg·K).
Calorie per Gram-Kelvin facts
- Unit name
- Calorie per Gram-Kelvin
- Symbol
- cal/g·K
- Category
- Specific Heat
- Measurement system
- Non-SI, traditional unit
- SI equivalent
- 1 cal/(g·K) = 4.184 J/(kg·K)
- Common uses
- Chemistry lab calculations, nutrition science, thermodynamics textbooks
Definition of the calorie per gram-kelvin
The calorie per gram-Kelvin expresses specific heat in traditional calorie units; water's specific heat is defined as exactly 1 cal/(g·K).
Measurement system and SI relationship
Non-SI, traditional unit
SI equivalent: 1 cal/(g·K) = 4.184 J/(kg·K)
History of the calorie per gram-kelvin
The calorie's historical definition is based on water's heating capacity, and this unit remains common in chemistry and nutrition science.
Where is the calorie per gram-kelvin used?
Chemistry lab calculations, nutrition science, thermodynamics textbooks