Specific Heat of Common Liquids and Fluids
Specific heats for some common liquids and fluids - acetone, oil, paraffin, water and many more.
The specific heat for some commonly used liquids and fluids is given in the table below.
For conversion of units, use the Specific heat online unit converter.
See also tabulated values of specific heat of gases, food and foodstuff, metals and semimetals, common solids and other common substances as well as values of molar specific heat of common organic substances and inorganic substances.
| Product | Specific Heat - cp - | |
|---|---|---|
| (kJ/kgK) | (Btu/(lb oF)) (Kcal/kg oC) | |
| Acetic acid | 2.043 | 0.49 |
| Acetone | 2.15 | 0.51 |
| Alcohol, ethyl 31 oF (ethanol) | 2.3 | 0.548 |
| Alcohol, ethyl 104 oF (ethanol) | 2.72 | 0.65 |
| Alcohol, methyl. 40 - 50 oF | 2.47 | 0.59 |
| Alcohol, methyl. 60 - 70 oF | 2.51 | 0.6 |
| Alcohol, propyl | 2.37 | 0.57 |
| Ammonia, 31 oF | 4.6 | 1.1 |
| Ammonia, 104 oF | 4.86 | 1.16 |
| Ammonia, 176 oF | 5.4 | 1.29 |
| Ammonia, 211 oF | 6.2 | 1.48 |
| Ammonia, 238 oF | 6.74 | 1.61 |
| Aniline | 2.18 | 0.514 |
| Asphalt, liquid | 2.09 | 0.5 |
| Benzene, 60 oF | 1.8 | 0.43 |
| Benzene, 150 oF | 1.92 | 0.46 |
| Benzine | 2.1 | |
| Benzol | 1.8 | 0.43 |
| Bismuth, 800 oF | 0.15 | 0.0345 |
| Bismuth, 1000 oF | 0.155 | 0.0369 |
| Bismuth, 1400 oF | 0.165 | 0.0393 |
| Bromine | 0.47 | 0.11 |
| n-Butane, 31 oF | 2.3 | 0.55 |
| Calcium Chloride | 3.06 | 0.73 |
| Carbon Disulfide | 0.992 | 0.237 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.866 | 0.207 |
| Castor Oil | 1.8 | 0.43 |
| Chloroform | 1.05 | 0.251 |
| Citron Oil | 1.84 | 0.44 |
| Decane | 2.21 | 0.528 |
| Diphenylamine | 1.93 | 0.46 |
| Dodecane | 2.21 | 0.528 |
| Dowtherm | 1.55 | 0.37 |
| Ether | 2.21 | 0.528 |
| Ethyl ether | 2.22 | 0.529 |
| Ethylene glycol | 2.36 | 0.56 |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane R-12 saturated -40 oF | 0.88 | 0.211 |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane R-12 saturated 0 oF | 0.91 | 0.217 |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane R-12 saturated 120 oF | 1.02 | 0.244 |
| Fuel Oil min. | 1.67 | 0.4 |
| Fuel Oil max. | 2.09 | 0.5 |
| Gasoline | 2.22 | 0.53 |
| Glycerine | 2.43 | 0.576 |
| Heptane | 2.24 | 0.535 |
| Hexane | 2.26 | 0.54 |
| Hydrochlor acid | 3.14 | |
| Iodine | 2.15 | 0.51 |
| Kerosene | 2.01 | 0.48 |
| Linseed Oil | 1.84 | 0.44 |
| Light Oil, 60 oF | 1.8 | 0.43 |
| Light Oil, 300 oF | 2.3 | 0.54 |
| Mercury | 0.14 | 0.03 |
| Methyl alcohol | 2.51 | |
| Milk | 3.93 | 0.94 |
| Naphthalene | 1.72 | 0.41 |
| Nitric acid | 1.72 | |
| Nitro benzole | 1.52 | 0.362 |
| Octane | 2.15 | 0.51 |
| Oil, Castor | 1.97 | 0.47 |
| Oil, Olive | 1.97 | 0.47 |
| Oil, mineral | 1.67 | 0.4 |
| Oil, turpentine | 1.8 | |
| Oil, vegetable | 1.67 | 0.4 |
| Olive oil | 1.97 | 0.47 |
| Paraffin | 2.13 | 0.51 |
| Perchlor ethylene | 0.905 | |
| Petroleum | 2.13 | 0.51 |
| Petroleum ether | 1.76 | |
| Phenol | 1.43 | 0.34 |
| Potassium hydrate | 3.68 | 0.88 |
| Propane, 31 oF | 2.4 | 0.576 |
| Propylene | 2.85 | 0.68 |
| Propylene Glycol | 2.5 | 0.60 |
| Sesame oil | 1.63 | 0.39 |
| Sodium, 200 oF | 1.38 | 0.33 |
| Sodium, 1000 oF | 1.26 | 0.3 |
| Sodium hydrate | 3.93 | 0.94 |
| Soya bean oil | 1.97 | 0.47 |
| Sulfuric acid concentrated | 1.38 | |
| Sulfuric acid | 1.34 | |
| Toluene | 1.72 | 0.41 |
| Trichlor ethylene | 1.30 | |
| Tuluol | 1.51 | 0.36 |
| Turpentine | 1.72 | 0.411 |
| Water, fresh | 4.19 | 1 |
| Water, sea 36 oF | 3.93 | 0.938 |
| Xylene | 1.72 | 0.41 |
- 1 kJ/kgK = 1000 J/(kgoC) = 0.2389 kcal/(kg oC) = 0.2389 Btu/lbmoF
- T (oC) = 5/9 (T (oF) - 32)
For conversion of units, use the Specific heat online unit converter.
See also tabulated values of specific heat of Gases, Food and foodstuff, Metals and semimetals, Common solids and other Common substances.
Heating Energy
The energy required to heat a product can be calculated as
q = cp m dt (1)
where
q = heat required (kJ)
cp = specific heat (kJ/kg K, kJ/kg oC)
dt = temperature difference (K, oC)
Example - Required Heat to increase Temperature i Water
10 kg of water is heated from 20 oC to 100 oC - a temperature difference 80 oC (K). The heat required can be calculated as
q = (4.19 kJ/kg K) (10 kg) (80 oC)
= 3352 kJ
