The physical state of a substance does not affect its specific heat. True or false.

Answer 1

False; the physical state of a substance will have a substantial affect on its specific heat. For example, the specific heat of water in 3 different phases are:

Ice- 2.03

Water- 4.186

Water vapor/steam- 1.996

The differences in specific heat by phase arise in the way that heat transfer affects a substance. When molecules of the substance are heated, the kinetic energy contained in the molecules increases, leading to less stable molecular bonds that eventually get broken. Generally, the order of specific heat goes solid highest, then liquid, then gas, due to the bond strength between molecules in a solid being the highest. Water is a special case due to the covalent structure formed by water freezing being less strong than the constant hydrogen bonds formed and broken by liquid water. Hope this helps!