heat vs thermal energy [ENDORSED]

[Kellina Tran 2I]

What’s the difference between being asked to calculate the amount of thermal energy versus the amount of heat required to raise a substance to a certain temperature?

[Michelle Chernyak 1J]

Thermal energy is q while the heat required to raise a substance to a certain temperature is the specific heat capacity. Based off of this, the first is asking for q in q=mCdeltaT and the second is asking for the C.

[Chem_Mod]

We usually use these terms interchangeably. However, the subtle difference has to do with heat being a transfer property. It has to be exchanged to be measured. Thermal energy is the energy available to a material as a function of its temperature. Heat can be exchanged without removing the total thermal energy of the system. Yes, "amount of heat required to raise a substance to a certain temperature" is the definition of heat capacity.