What is the term for the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance one degree Celsius?

The term for the heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius is known as specific heat capacity. This concept specifically refers to the amount of heat necessary to increase the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius (or one Kelvin). It is a material-dependent value, meaning different substances will have different specific heat capacities. For instance, water has a relatively high specific heat capacity, which is why it can absorb a lot of heat without a significant change in temperature, making it a crucial component in temperature regulation within natural and artificial systems.

Heat capacity, on the other hand, refers to the heat required to raise the temperature of an entire object or sample, not just a unit mass. Latent heat relates to the heat absorbed or released during a phase change (like melting or boiling), and thermal energy represents the overall energy of particles within a substance at a given temperature, encompassing both kinetic and potential energy. Thus, specific heat capacity is the most precise term relevant to the specific scenario described in the question.