Which of the following characteristics most directly determine how easily a substance changes temperature when heat is added or removed?

• A. Color
• B. Molar mass
• C. Specific heat capacity
• D. Density

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question asks which property most directly affects how easily a substance changes temperature when heat is added or removed.
2. Recall the definition of specific heat capacity: it is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram (or one mole) of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin).
3. Recognize that specific heat capacity directly relates heat energy input to temperature change through the formula \(q = m \times c \times \Delta T\), where \(q\) is heat added, \(m\) is mass, \(c\) is specific heat capacity, and \(\Delta T\) is the temperature change.
4. Compare other options: color affects absorption of light but not directly temperature change; molar mass affects mass but not heat capacity directly; density relates mass and volume but does not directly determine temperature change.
5. Conclude that specific heat capacity is the characteristic that most directly determines how easily a substance changes temperature when heat is added or removed.