Final answer:
Hydrogen bonding leads to water's high specific heat because it requires more energy to break these strong intermolecular forces, allowing water to absorb and release heat slowly, making it an effective temperature regulator.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydrogen bonding allows for high specific heat in water because it creates a strong attraction between the positively charged hydrogen atom of one water molecule and the negatively charged oxygen atom of another. This strong intermolecular force means that more energy, in the form of heat, is required to break these bonds and increase the temperature of the water.
For water, the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram by one degree Celsius is one calorie, which is higher than many other substances. The constant breaking and re-forming of these hydrogen bonds enable water to absorb and release heat energy slowly, which makes it an excellent temperature moderator for organisms and their environments.
The high heat capacity also means that water will take a longer time to heat up and cool down compared to other substances such as sand, which explains why the ocean can regulate coastal climates by absorbing heat in the daytime and releasing it slowly at night.