Identical heat lamps are arranged to shine on identical containers of water and methanol (wood alcohol), so that each liquid absorbs the same amount of energy minute by minute. The covalent bonds of methanol molecules are nonpolar, so there are no hydrogen bonds among methanol molecules. Which of the following graphs correctly describes what will happen to the temperature of the water and the methanol?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The heat capacity of water is higher than that of methanol, meaning that it requires more energy to raise the temperature of water by a certain amount compared to methanol. Additionally, hydrogen bonds in water allow for more efficient transfer of heat compared to the nonpolar covalent bonds in methanol. Therefore, the temperature of water will increase more slowly than that of methanol. This is accurately represented in choice B, where the blue line (representing water) increases at a slower rate than the orange line (representing methanol).

Identical Heat Lamps Are Arranged to Shine on Identical Containers