The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit mass of a required to raise the temperature to raise the temperature of the mass by one degree Celsius. For example the specific heat (usually water) is One calorie/gram or °C= 4.186 calories/gram °C or 4.186 joules/gram K, water has a very high specific heat compared to most common substances. The specific heat of copper is only 0.093 calories/gram °C.