Specific Heat Concept Clarification

[herewego]

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Would it be correct to say the higher the specific heat of a substance, the more heat it donates per change in its own temperature?

My TPR review book says that the higher the specific heat of a substance, the better it HOLDS ON to absorbed heat ( pg 502 PS review)

Are these statements contradictory or is there a nuance in the first statement? Something along the lines of, a substance with a high specific heat can donate more heat without changing its own temperature much..

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Dr Gerrard]

Same thing. If it donates heat, its temperature decreases.

If it absorbs heat, its temperature increases.

The higher the specific heat, the smaller the change in temperature per heat transfer.

 

[loveoforganic]

Both of those statements are correct.

 

[herewego]

So is my synthesis statement correct? A substance with high specific heat can transfer a lot of heat without changing it's own temperature much?

 

[matth87]

Think about it like this instead:

High Specific Heat Means - It takes alot of energy to change the temperature of the substance.

Energy = Heat

Therefore something that is 50degress w/ a specific heat of 2 will have more energy to give up then something that is 50degrees w/ a specific heat of 1.

Heating = Energy Entering System
Cooling= Energy Leaving System

 

[herewego]

High Specific Heat Means - It takes alot of energy to change the temperature of the substance.

Right there, that finally clicked with me. It takes a lot of absorbed energy to change its temperature, AND it has to give a lot of energy to change its temperature.

Thanks for all the help guys.