Specific heat refers to the quantity of heat a material can absorb or release to alter its temperature by one degree Celsius. To calculate specific heat, we apply the equation for the heat absorbed by the system. The heat taken in or released by a system can be expressed by multiplying the mass of the substance by its specific heat capacity and the change in temperature. The formula is:
Heat = mC(T2-T1)
By substituting the provided values, we can find C, the specific heat of the substance.
2510 J = 0.158 kg (1000 g / 1 kg)(C)(61.0 - 32.0 °C) C = 0.5478 J/g°C