Concept: Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). Substances with strong intermolecular forces generally have higher specific heat capacities because more energy is needed to overcome these forces and increase the kinetic energy of the molecules.

Why (C) is correct: Water molecules are highly polar and form extensive hydrogen bonds with each other. These strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds require a significant amount of energy to break or weaken before the kinetic energy of the molecules can increase, leading to a rise in temperature. Therefore, water has an unusually high specific heat capacity compared to many other liquids.

Option Analysis:

• A) high dielectric constant: While water has a high dielectric constant, which is related to its polarity and ability to dissolve ionic compounds, it is not the direct reason for its high specific heat capacity. The dielectric constant relates to how a substance affects an electric field, not directly to the energy required to raise its temperature.
• B) polarity: Water's polarity is a prerequisite for hydrogen bonding, but it is the hydrogen bonding itself, a specific type of strong intermolecular force, that directly accounts for the high specific heat. Many polar molecules do not exhibit such high specific heats if they lack extensive hydrogen bonding.
• D) none of the above: This is incorrect because H-bonding is the correct explanation.

Correct Answer: (C)