What is defined as the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius?

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius is specifically referred to as specific heat. Specific heat is a fundamental property of materials that indicates how much energy is necessary to change the temperature of a given mass of a substance, reflecting its ability to store thermal energy. This concept is essential in various applications, from engineering to environmental science, as it helps predict how materials respond to heat.

Heat capacity, while related, refers to the total amount of heat energy required to change the temperature of a substance, but it does not specify a unit mass. Thermal conductivity deals with how well a material conducts heat rather than the energy required to change its temperature. Latent heat refers to the energy required for a phase change (like melting or boiling) rather than a change in temperature. Therefore, the term that accurately reflects the energy requirement for a temperature change per unit mass is specific heat.