Solids, liquids, and gases

[Ryan Chang 1C]

Why do solids and gases have a lower heat capacity than water?

[Myka G 1l]

Water as a liquid has such a high specific heat capacity compared to its solid and gaseous forms due to the hydrogen bonding between water molecules. When heat is absorbed by water, hydrogen bonds are broken(which requires energy) and the molecules move freely. When the temperature of water decreases, hydrogen bonds are formed between molecules and release energy. Bonds are constantly being broken and formed, creating a high heat capacity.

[ASetlur_1G]

Water as a liquid has more directions to move and to absorb the heat applied to it. There's more surface area that needs to be heated for the overall temperature to increase.

[Althea Zhao 1B]

SOME solids do have a higher heat capacity than water and the same goes for gases. If you mean in terms of the solid and gaseous forms of water, it is because liquid water is polar and has the ability to expand a little when heated.

[gconcha]

They don't?
Water is a kind of unique molecule because of how strong its intermolecular interactions are. The heat necessary to break the dense web of Hydrogen Bonds is therefore very high. Any molecule that can sufficiently bond to other molecules in such an efficient way will also be likely to have a high heat capacity.

The fact is that most molecules don't have a heat capacity as high as water