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Water has a high specific heat due to hydrogen bonding, which increases intermolecular forces between molecules. See the detailed answer below for more information.
We should first start with a definition: The specific heat is the amount of heat (energy) needed to raise a one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius. Essentially this means that if you have 5 grams of A that has a high specific heat, and 5 grams of B with a low specific heat, you're going to have to put moreheat into substance A in order to get the same temperature change as substance B. Put another more general way: it is difficult to change the temperature of substances with a high specific heat because they resist change in temperature.
First we have to take a look at what's going on when a substance increases temperature. Temperature is the average kinetic energy of the molecules, meaning the faster the molecules move, the higher the temperature. The slower the molecules move, the lower the temperature. When you add heat to a substance, it gives the molecules more energy, they will move faster, and the temperature will increase.
So now let's look at water. We already know that water has considerable resistance to change in temperature and therefore a high specific heat. We see this characteristic when the pot of water takes forever to boil and when bodies of water act as a buffer during weather shifts. The reason for water's high specific heat lies with the molecular structure of the H2O molecule.
The two hydrogen atoms share electrons in a covalent bond with the oxygen. But they are shared unevenly--that is, the bond between the hydrogen and oxygen is a polar covalent bond. The oxygen is more electronegative and is more attracted to the electrons. Because electrons are negative, the oxygen atom becomes slightly negative and the hydrogen atoms become slightly positive. This difference in charges and the bent nature of water contribute to its "dipole moment." The slightly negative oxygen of one water molecule is going to be attracted to the slightly positive hydrogen of another molecule. This attraction is called a hydrogen bond. Because of these bonds between water molecules, they "stick" to each other (or have increased intermolecular forces).
Let's put the hydrogen-bonding water molecules and the ideas of temperature together. To get a given sample of water to increase its temperature, you're going to put heat into it. This heat works to move the molecules faster. But there's something holding the water molecules from moving freely -- they are "stuck" together to a certain extent because of their hydrogen bonds. The heat you're putting into the water goes to increasing movement and into the hydrogen bonds. Some of the energy is taken away because the hydrogen bonds first have to be broken.
Although hydrogen bonds don't involve sharing or transferring of electrons and are a lot weaker than covalent bonds, a lot more energy is needed to overcome them. Thus, the hydrogen bonds in water make it difficult for it to change temperature; it has a high specific heat.
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∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoWater moderates Earth's climate because of it's high specific heat capacity.
Everyone knows that the 2/3 parts of the Earth is covered with water.
The ocean helps absorbing the heat. It absorbes one thousand times more heat the air we are breathing in. The ocean, itself, approximately holds 80~90% of the global warming air.
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∙ 15y agoWhy_is_water%27s_high_specific_capacity_important_to_us
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∙ 13y agoIt is important for aquatic life. Sea water does not heat too much with the sun heating it all day long. Thus, aquatic animals enjoy of a constant temperature in the sea.
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∙ 14y agoPeople should drink 8 glasses of water each day to stay healthy. Water carries nutrients to all of the cells throughout our bodies. If we dont drink enough we might become dehydrated.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt allows water to retain large amounts of energy before changing state.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWater has a high specific heat capacity because of the hydrogen bonding between the water molecules.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agobecause we have less water
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Does aluminium have as high a specific heat capacity as iron?
why wud i know
Would substances with high specific heat capacity also have high temperatures?
Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy or heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one kelvin. So if the specific heat capacity is high then you would require more energy or heat to raise its temperature. The specific heat capacity does not really have anything to do with how much you can increase an objects temperature. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ENERGY NEEDED TO INCREASE THE TEMPERATURE.
Which substance having high specific heat capacity?
A common substance with a high specific heat is water. There are a few substances that have a higher heat capacity than water, though, such as lithium and ammonia.
Does hydrogen or water has high specific heat capacity?
Water has a MUCH higher specific heat than hydrogen.
Is low specific heat capacity a disadvantage or an advantage?
Usually a high specific heat capacity is an advantage as more energy is required to cause the substance to boil. For example water has a high specific heat capacity as it has hydrogen bonds between molecules, which means that more energy is required to move the molecules around and hence cause boiling. This is an advantage for a few reasons: 1) Water remains at a relatively stable temperature (i.e) ponds, oceans which means that the organisms living in there do not have to deal with extreme temperatures.2) Sweating. As it has a high specific heat capacity, water can absorb a lot of heat and transport it away from the body before it evaporates. This is an advantage to organisms that cannot use a lot of water for sweating because they live in a desert environment.
Does sand have a high or low specific heat capacity?
sand have low specific heat capacity.
Would it be better to have pots and pans made from material with a high specific heat capacity or low specific heat capacity?
Higher Heat
What is specific heat capacity of a High-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation Tile?
high
Does cooking pot have low or high specific heat capacity?
Low heat capacity for effective heating.
What does it mean to say that a material has a high or low specific heat capacity?
The specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy required to increase the temperature of a said substance 1o K. The capacity is measured in kilojoules divided by kilogram time degrees Kelvin (kJ/Kg k). So, if the specific heat capacity of a substance is high, it requires a very large amount of energy to increase the temperature, and if it has a low specific heat capacity, the required energy will be lower.
Why do the islands have moderate temperatures?
because of high specific heat capacity.
Does aluminium have as high a specific heat capacity as iron?
why wud i know
Would substances with high specific heat capacity also have high temperatures?
Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy or heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one kelvin. So if the specific heat capacity is high then you would require more energy or heat to raise its temperature. The specific heat capacity does not really have anything to do with how much you can increase an objects temperature. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ENERGY NEEDED TO INCREASE THE TEMPERATURE.
What is high heat capacity?
A substance with a high specific heat capacity is one that needs a lot of heat energy pumped into it in order to raise its temperature. Substances with relatively high specific heat capacities include water, rock, and potatoes.
What property of water makes it so your high temperature will go down?
Water has a high heat capacity and a high specific heat capacity 4.184 kJ/kg/K
Does a substance that cools up quickly have high or low specific heat capacity?
It would have a LOW specific heat capacity because -- the subst heats up quickly which means you would use less heat capacity.
Which substance having high specific heat capacity?
A common substance with a high specific heat is water. There are a few substances that have a higher heat capacity than water, though, such as lithium and ammonia.
