Specific heat (Cp) refers to what?

Specific heat (Cp) is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by a specific temperature increment, typically expressed in degrees Celsius or Kelvin. The correct definition states that specific heat refers to the heat needed to increase the temperature of 1 kg of a substance by 1°C.

In the context of the options provided, the correct understanding lies in recognizing that specific heat is fundamentally associated with temperature change per unit mass. The alternate measurements involving pounds and Fahrenheit represent different specifics, such as the heat needed to change temperature in imperial units versus metric. However, since specific heat is fundamentally tied to the concept of mass and temperature change, it is aligned more closely with the metric measure of 1 kg increased by 1°C.

The other options pertain to different thermodynamic processes or properties: phase changes like melting or vaporization are separate concepts from specific heat, which focuses solely on temperature change. Therefore, recognizing specific heat as a measure of how much heat energy is required to raise the temperature of a mass of substance, particularly in common metric terms, is essential in understanding this property accurately.