Chapter U5.5, Problem 1TAI

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The response of different substances to heat needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction: The greater the specific heat capacity of a substance, the less its temperature will rise when it absorbs a given amount of energy. If a substance has a small specific heat capacity, it will change temperature easily, with a small transfer of energy.

Answer to Problem 1TAI

Different amounts of energy are required to increase the temperature of different type of substance. This is why the aluminium pot warms up quicker, and also reduces faster, than water. Water does not change temperature as easily as most substances.

Explanation of Solution

All substance has a unique response to heat. Suppose an aluminium pot of water is placed on the stove to heat. After a minute, the metal pot will be excessively hot to touch, but the water will still be cool. It is because various quantities of energy are required to elevate each form of substance's temperature. Some substances, like metals, change temperature more than others in response to the transfer of the same amount of energy due to a lower specific heat capacity. Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to increase the temperature of 1 g of a substance by $1°\text{}\text{C}$ . The specific heat capacity of a substance depends on a number of factors, including the number of atoms or molecules in a sample and the type of bonding.

Conclusion

The bonding also affects a substance’s specific heat capacity. Substances that are polar tend to have high specific heat capacities. This means that molecules will have higher specific heat capacities than metals.