The specific heat capacity is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1kg of a substance by 1°C.The hydrogen bonding between water molecules means more energy is needed to heat a given mass of water.This means water can absorb a lot of energy without a large change in temperature.Water therefore acts as a buffer against sudden temperature changes for organisms especially organisms that live in water.Large bodies of water such as the oceans do not undergo fluctuations in temperature. The temperature remains stable and within a narrow range.
Specific Heat Capacity of Water
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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.1.7 Water. Topic: Nucleic Acids.
Key terms in this lesson
- hydrogen bond
- A weak electrostatic attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom on one polar molecule and a slightly negative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, on another.
More in Nucleic Acids
- ATP
- ATP Synthesis
- Roles of ATP
- Water and Hydrogen Bonding
- Latent heat of Vaporisation of Water
- Cohesion and Surface Tension of Water
- The Importance of Water
- Inorganic Ions
All 18 lessons in Nucleic Acids · All AQA AS-level Biology topics