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Multiple Choice
Which statement best explains why water levels change slowly when exposed to heat compared to other liquids?
A
Water has a low specific heat capacity, so it heats up quickly.
B
Water evaporates instantly when exposed to heat due to weak hydrogen bonds.
C
Water contracts when heated, causing its level to drop rapidly.
D
Water has a high specific heat capacity, so it absorbs a lot of energy before its temperature rises significantly.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of specific heat capacity. Specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius. Substances with high specific heat capacity require more energy to change their temperature compared to substances with low specific heat capacity.
Step 2: Recognize the unique properties of water. Water has a high specific heat capacity due to the hydrogen bonds between its molecules. These bonds require significant energy to break, which slows down the rate at which water's temperature changes.
Step 3: Compare water to other liquids. Many other liquids have lower specific heat capacities, meaning they heat up or cool down more quickly when exposed to heat. Water's high specific heat capacity makes it resistant to rapid temperature changes.
Step 4: Relate this property to the problem. When water is exposed to heat, it absorbs a large amount of energy before its temperature rises significantly. This explains why water levels change slowly compared to other liquids when heated.
Step 5: Eliminate incorrect statements. The other options in the problem are incorrect because they either misrepresent water's properties (e.g., low specific heat capacity, instant evaporation, contraction when heated) or fail to explain the observed phenomenon accurately.