What is the specific heat of water in BTUs per degree?

The specific heat of water is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit, which is indeed 1 BTU per degree. This property is crucial in various applications, including heating and cooling systems, because it indicates water's ability to store and transfer heat.

This value of 1 BTU is significant as it serves as a standard reference point in thermodynamics and thermal engineering. Different substances have varying specific heats based on their molecular structure and bonding, but for water, the specific heat being 1 BTU makes calculations straightforward when dealing with thermal energy changes in systems involving water. Other values like 0.5 BTU, 2 BTUs, and 0.1 BTU do not accurately reflect the energy required for heating water and are incorrect options in this context.