The heat capacities of dilute aqueous solutions of phenol (hydroxybenzene), three cresols (2-, 3- and 4-methylhydroxybenzene), aniline (aminobenzene) and three toluidines (2-, 3- and 4-methylaminobenzene) were determined using a modified flow Picker-type high temperature calorimeter. The measurements were performed at temperatures between (303 and 623) K or 573 K for compounds containing hydroxy or amino group, respectively, and at several pressures up to 30 MPa. Standard heat capacities (partial molar heat capacities at infinite dilution) obtained from the experimental data exhibit a strong increase with temperature above 500 K consistent with the evolution of the standard volumes reported earlier. The data for aqueous phenol were used for testing several semiempiric models proposed for description of the standard thermodynamic properties of aqueous solutes. Their ability to reproduce the temperature and pressure dependence of standard heat capacities and to extrapolate towards higher conditions were examined. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.