Final answer:
All the tools placed in boiling water will reach the same temperature, which is typically around 100°C at sea level. They will reach thermal equilibrium with the boiling water. Material specific heat affects how quickly they change temperature, not the final equilibrium temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves understanding the concept of specific heat and heat transfer. When a wood tool, silver tool, and steel tool are placed in boiling water for cleaning, all the tools will eventually reach the same temperature as the boiling water. This temperature will depend on the atmospheric pressure, but it is typically around 100°C (212°F) at sea level. Different materials conduct and absorb heat differently due to their specific heat capacities. However, in a boiling water scenario, assuming the tools remain in the water long enough, they will all come into thermal equilibrium with the water, reaching the same temperature.
In another context, the specific heat of materials determines how quickly they can change temperature. For example, when cooling a hot piece of metal, water would reduce the metal's temperature more than ice because water has a greater specific heat capacity than ice. This means it can absorb more heat before its temperature rises by the same amount compared to ice.