Final answer:
The substance with the lowest specific heat capacity will undergo the largest temperature change when equal amounts of heat are applied to equal masses. This is due to the inverse relationship between specific heat capacity and temperature change for a given heat transfer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The substance with the largest temperature change when equal amounts of heat are applied to equal masses at a starting temperature of -10°C will be the one with the lowest specific heat capacity. Specific heat capacity is a physical property that defines how much heat energy is needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. The amount of heat transferred to a substance depends on the mass of the substance, the change in temperature desired, and the specific heat capacity of that substance. If identical amounts of heat are transferred to different substances with the same mass, the one with the lowest specific heat capacity will experience the largest temperature change.
For example, if we compare water, concrete, steel, and mercury, and add 1.00 kcal of heat to 1.00 kg of each substance, we can calculate their final temperatures based on their specific heat capacities. From Figure 14.4, we know that the heat transferred is directly proportional to the mass and temperature change, and inversely proportional to the specific heat capacity of the substance. Using this information, we can infer that for the same mass and heat transfer, water will show the smallest temperature change due to its high specific heat capacity, while substances like mercury will show larger temperature changes.