CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

How do you differentiate molar heat capacity from specific heat capacity?

the molar heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 mole of a substance by 1 degree Celsius or 1 kelvin.
the specific heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree celsius or 1 kelvin

Molar heat capacity is the heat required to raise the temperature of a mol of the substance, while the specific heat capacity is the heat required to raise hte temperature of a gram of the substance.

Molar heat capacities and specific heat capacities are virtually the same thing, just with different units. If you are given moles of a substance, you can easily convert to grams of the substance and vice versa.

It is important that you understand both, because different problems will give you different units to work with. For example, if the problem gives you mass of iron in grams, use the specific heat (since that is in terms of grams). If you only have access to the molar heat capacity and are given iron in grams, convert grams of iron to moles of iron and then use the molar heat capacity.

Is there one that is more commonly given in problems or are they used equally?

I don't believe one is used more than the other. It just depends on what the given units are in the problem.