Calculating q, end text using the heat capacity

We can use the heat capacity to determine the heat released or absorbed by a material using the following formula:

q=m×C×ΔT

where m,  is the mass of the substance (in grams), C,  is the specific heat capacity, and ΔT  is the change in temperature during the heat transfer. Note that both mass and specific heat capacity can only have positive values, so the sign of q, end text will depend on the sign of ΔT. We can calculate ΔT. end text using the following equation:

ΔT = T_final − T_initial

where T_final and T_initial can have units of either ∘C or K, Based on this equation, if q,  is positive (energy of the system increases), then our system increases in temperature and T_final > T_initial . If  q,  is negative (energy of the system decreases), then our system’s temperature decreases and T_final > T_initial.