Chemistry Regents Practice Test 2026 - Free Chemistry Regents Practice Questions and Study Guide

A substance with a high specific heat is characterized by its ability to store a large amount of heat energy without undergoing a significant change in temperature. Specific heat is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. Therefore, a high specific heat indicates that the substance can absorb a considerable amount of heat energy while maintaining a relatively stable temperature.

This property is important in many contexts, such as in climate regulation, where bodies of water with high specific heat can moderate temperature changes in their surroundings, leading to more stable climates. In contrast, substances with lower specific heats tend to experience greater temperature fluctuations with the addition or removal of heat.

The other options relate to different physical and chemical properties that do not accurately connect to the concept of specific heat. For example, temperature changes are related to how quickly a substance can react to heat but do not affect its specific heat directly. Similarly, density and the rate of evaporation are not relevant to the specific heat capacity of a substance.