Is Heat Capacity Intensive or Extensive?

Heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius (or 1 Kelvin).

Intensive vs. Extensive Properties

• Intensive property: Independent of the quantity of matter (e.g., temperature, pressure, density).
• Extensive property: Dependent on the quantity of matter (e.g., mass, volume, energy).

Heat Capacity Nature

Heat capacity is an extensive property because it depends on the mass (or amount of substance).

• A larger body requires more heat to raise its temperature compared to a smaller body.

Example:

• If you heat 1 kg of water, it requires ~4184 J to raise its temperature by 1 K.
• For 2 kg of water, it requires ~8368 J for the same temperature rise.
  Thus, the heat capacity changes with the amount of substance.
• Specific heat capacity: Heat capacity per unit mass → an intensive property.
• Molar heat capacity: Heat capacity per mole of substance → also an intensive property.

Also Check: What is Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics?