Question

If the specific heat of a substance is infinite, then it means
A: Heat is given out
B: Heat is taken out
C: No change in temperature takes place whether heat is taken in or given out
D: All of the above

Answer 1

When a substance is said to have an infinite value of specific heat, it literally means that the substance is capable of storing an infinite value of thermal energy. In other words, it can act as an abundant source or reservoir of thermal energy. We can approach this question by keeping this key point in mind.

Complete answer:
The specific heat of a substance can be defined as the quantity of heat per unit mass required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. Specific heat helps us to express the relationship between heat and the corresponding temperature change.

Here we are given that the value of the specific heat has increased to infinity. From this we can imply that the heat in the substance is being taken out and given out simultaneously without any change occurring in the temperature of the substance.

From this, we can conclude that option C is the correct answer among the given options.

Note: Water usually has a very large value for specific heat capacity. It is one of the characteristic properties of water as the hydrogen bonding that exists between the water molecules helps in raising the overall value of the specific heat of the substance.