Calorie
| Also Known As | cal, thermochemical calorie, small calorie, kilocalorie (kcal), food Calorie (Cal) |
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What is Calorie?
The calorie (cal) is a unit of energy defined as the heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C at 15°C. The nutritional Calorie (kcal) equals 1000 calories. In SI units, 1 calorie = 4.184 joules. Though largely replaced by the joule in scientific work, calories remain in common use in nutrition and food science.
Properties & Characteristics
Uses & Applications
Safety Information
Always consult the SDS/MSDS before handling any chemical. This information is for educational purposes only.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
The calorie (cal) is a unit of energy defined as the heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C at 15°C. The nutritional Calorie (kcal) equals 1000 calories. In SI units, 1 calorie = 4.184 joules. Though largely replaced by the joule in scientific work, calories remain in common use in nutrition and food science.
Calories are used in food energy labelling, bomb calorimetry data reporting (older literature), thermochemical tables, and exercise physiology. Heats of combustion of fuels were historically reported in kcal/mol; conversion to kJ/mol is standard in modern chemistry.
No direct safety concern for the unit itself. Calorimetric experiments involving combustion require safe handling of combustible materials and high-pressure oxygen bombs. Excessive caloric intake leads to metabolic disorders — relevant in nutrition science but not laboratory safety.