Question

Which sample is most likely to undergo the smallest change in temperature?

A) 1 gram of water
B) 1 gram of aluminum
C) 1 gram of iron
D) 1 gram of ethanol

Answer 1

A sample of 1 gram of water would experience the smallest temperature change upon absorbing 100 cal of heat because water has the highest heat capacity of the substances listed.

Step-by-step explanation:

If 1 gram of each substance were to absorb 100 cal of heat, the substance that would experience the smallest temperature change would be the one with the highest heat capacity, because heat capacity is a measure of the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance. Each substance has a unique specific heat capacity, which is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of the substance by 1 degree Celsius.

In this case, water has a higher specific heat capacity compared to aluminum, iron, and ethanol, meaning water can absorb more heat before its temperature rises significantly. Therefore, 1 gram of water is the sample most likely to undergo the smallest change in temperature when absorbing the same amount of heat as the other substances listed.