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Calories (international table) per gram-kelvin explained

Calories (international table) per gram-kelvin is a unit of specific heat capacity that measures the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one Kelvin. This unit uses the "international table calorie," which is precisely defined as 4.1868 joules. It is commonly applied in chemistry, food science, and thermodynamics when working with smaller mass quantities or legacy data expressed in calories rather than joules.

Symbol

The symbol for calories (international table) per gram-kelvin is calIT/g·K. This notation clearly identifies the international table calorie as the energy reference standard.

Applications of calIT/g·K

Calories (international table) per gram-kelvin are typically used in:

  • Chemistry experiments and calculations involving thermal energy changes
  • Food science, especially in older nutritional and calorimetric studies
  • Engineering and educational contexts where data was originally recorded in calories

Measurement Tools

Specific heat capacity in calIT/g·K can be determined using:

  • Calorimeters (constant-pressure and constant-volume)
  • Digital temperature sensors coupled with heat input measurement devices
  • Software tools for unit conversion and material property databases

Origin of calIT/g·K

The "international table calorie" was defined in 1929 to standardize the calorie’s value in relation to the joule across scientific literature and practical engineering applications. It equals exactly 4.1868 joules, differing slightly from the thermochemical calorie. The continued use of calIT/g·K in specific fields highlights the legacy of calorie-based systems before the SI unit system became dominant.

FAQs about calIT/g·K

Why is the international table calorie still used instead of just joules?

Because many older experiments, textbooks, and databases were built using calories, the unit still appears in educational and historical contexts, especially in chemistry and food science.

How does calIT/g·K differ from cal/g·°C?

Numerically, the two are identical since a temperature change of 1 Kelvin equals a change of 1 degree Celsius. The difference lies only in the notation for clarity in scientific communication.

Are calories (IT) used in modern physics?

Not typically. The SI unit (joules) is the preferred standard for physics, but calories (IT) remain relevant in thermodynamics, especially in engineering and chemistry where legacy data exist. In other words, joules per kilogram-kelvin are preferred over calories per gram-kelvin to measure specific heat capacity.

Is calIT/g·K used in food labeling?

No. Food labels typically use kilocalories (kcal) per portion or gram, which represent total energy content, not specific heat capacity.

How do I convert calories (international table) per gram-kelvin to other specific heat capacity units?

Use the links below for easy conversions from calories (international table) per gram-kelvin to other specific heat capacity units available on this website.