answersLogoWhite

0

Liquid water has an unusually high specific heatcapacity. It is one of the highest of any substance known. But, that's just another way of saying that it is hard to change water's temperature--it doesn't explain why water has a high heat capacity.

Thermal energy is stored in liquid water as kinetic energy (molecular motion and rotation), as kinetic and potential energy in the vibrations of the inter-atomic bonds and, in particular, as kinetic and potential energy in the vibrations of the hydrogen bonds between molecules (H2O is a polar molecule with very strong hydrogen bonds). Much of the thermal energy that goes into water is stored as potential energyand, since temperature is a measure of only the average kinetic energy of the molecules, doesn't contribute to raising its temperature.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

When heating a sample of pure water to the boiling point why doesn't all of the water instantly vaporize when you reach the boiling point?

When water reaches its boiling point, it does not instantly vaporize because the heat energy is being used to break the hydrogen bonds holding the water molecules together. As the temperature continues to rise, more energy is transferred to the water molecules, causing them to break free and become vapor. This process of reaching a balance between the energy input and the energy needed to break the intermolecular forces takes time, so the water does not vaporize instantly.


Why do changes of state happen at a constant temperature?

It takes energy to alter temperature, and it also takes energy to change state, at least in the direction of more energetic states, which is to say, to melt a solid or to vaporize a liquid. If energy is being consumed by the change of state itself, then there is no energy available to change the temperature. So the temperature remains constant. In practice, this means for example that things boil at the boiling point. Boiling water is always exactly 100o Celsius. It can get no hotter until it is all boiled. The steam, of course, can then get hotter.


What has to happen for water to change temperature?

the energy from the sun goes to the equator causing a temperature difference at the poles. Blowing cold wind over the water, and the suns energy on the water effects the temperature change in the water.


Is it possible to change the temperature of a glass of water by stirring the water even though the glass is insulated from its surroundings?

No, stirring the water will not change the temperature of the water in an insulated glass. The insulation prevents heat transfer with the surroundings, so internal energy is conserved and stirring only affects the distribution of kinetic energy within the water, but not its overall temperature.


Why Did water Temperature change?

Water temperature can change due to factors such as sunlight, air temperature, and water depth. In colder climates, water temperature can decrease due to colder air temperatures or melting ice. In warmer climates, water temperature can increase due to sunlight exposure and warmer air temperatures. Human activities such as industrial discharge or climate change can also impact water temperature.

Related Questions

When heating a sample of pure water to the boiling point why doesn't all of the water instantly vaporize when you reach the boiling point?

When water reaches its boiling point, it does not instantly vaporize because the heat energy is being used to break the hydrogen bonds holding the water molecules together. As the temperature continues to rise, more energy is transferred to the water molecules, causing them to break free and become vapor. This process of reaching a balance between the energy input and the energy needed to break the intermolecular forces takes time, so the water does not vaporize instantly.


How much energy will be needed to vaporize 175g of water?

The amount of energy needed to vaporize 175 g of water depends on the temperature of the water. However, we shall assume it is 100 degrees C. We multiply 175 by 539 and get 94,325 calories. (Notice the small c). We could express it as 94 Calories if we were talking about the stuff on your dining room table.


Why do changes of state happen at a constant temperature?

It takes energy to alter temperature, and it also takes energy to change state, at least in the direction of more energetic states, which is to say, to melt a solid or to vaporize a liquid. If energy is being consumed by the change of state itself, then there is no energy available to change the temperature. So the temperature remains constant. In practice, this means for example that things boil at the boiling point. Boiling water is always exactly 100o Celsius. It can get no hotter until it is all boiled. The steam, of course, can then get hotter.


Example of heat of vaporation?

The heat of vaporization is the energy required to change a substance from liquid to gas at its boiling point without changing its temperature. For example, the heat of vaporization for water is 2260 J/g at its boiling point of 100°C. This means that 2260 Joules of energy are needed to vaporize 1 gram of liquid water at 100°C.


Why water vaporize at 70 degree Celsius?

70 degree Celsius is qiute a high temperature. in this temperature, the water molecules starts escaping which results in the vapourisation of water.


Why does the temperature of water does not change as it melts from solid to liquid water?

The energy that goes into temperature change is being used to change the state of the water, and until the transition is complete, it will not change temperature. The same goes for turning liquid water into a vapor. It is called the "latent heat", and sometimes "heat of fusion".


What has to happen for water to change temperature?

the energy from the sun goes to the equator causing a temperature difference at the poles. Blowing cold wind over the water, and the suns energy on the water effects the temperature change in the water.


The human body obtains 940 kJ of energy from a candy bar.If this energy were used to vaporize water at 100.0 degree centi how much water in liters could be vaporized Assume the density of water is 1.0?

Assuming the water begins at room temperature of 25 degrees Celsius: about 12.5 liters.


Which substances will show the smallest change in temperature when equal amounts of energy are absorbed?

Substances with high specific heat capacities, such as water, will show the smallest change in temperature when equal amounts of energy are absorbed. This is because these substances can absorb a lot of heat energy without a significant increase in temperature.


Is it possible to change the temperature of a glass of water by stirring the water even though the glass is insulated from its surroundings?

No, stirring the water will not change the temperature of the water in an insulated glass. The insulation prevents heat transfer with the surroundings, so internal energy is conserved and stirring only affects the distribution of kinetic energy within the water, but not its overall temperature.


How many joules are needed to change the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1C?

It takes 4.184 joules of energy to change the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.


Why Did water Temperature change?

Water temperature can change due to factors such as sunlight, air temperature, and water depth. In colder climates, water temperature can decrease due to colder air temperatures or melting ice. In warmer climates, water temperature can increase due to sunlight exposure and warmer air temperatures. Human activities such as industrial discharge or climate change can also impact water temperature.