How did Joseph Black contribute to the concept of specific heat?

Joseph Black is widely recognized for founding the concept of specific heat during the 18th century.1

While Black is frequently celebrated for his pioneering work on latent heat—the energy absorbed or released during a phase change without a change in temperature—his contributions to specific heat were distinct. He observed that equal masses of different substances require varying amounts of heat to undergo the same change in temperature. By noting these differences in thermal capacity, he established the foundational understanding that substances possess unique properties regarding how they store and absorb thermal energy.231

This work was part of his broader effort to distinguish between the intensity of heat (temperature) and the actual quantity of heat contained within a body. His experimental approach, which involved measuring temperature changes over time, provided the empirical basis for the modern study of heat capacity.21