HVACR Glossary
 

Specific heat
In the foot-pound-second system, the amount of heat (Btu) required to raise 1 pound of a substance 1 F. In the centimeter-gram-second system, the amount of heat (cal) required to raise 1 pound of substance 1 C. For example, the specific heat of water is 1 and the specific heat of air is .24.