Walls made of paraffin wax, a covalent compound, help keep the temperature in a room steady as night changes into day and day into night. What is the most important property of covalent compounds that allows paraffin wax to help keep a room’s temperature level?
Answer
A
The wall would not absorb or release any heat energy from the room or outside, so it would not affect the room’s temperature.
B
The wall would not absorb heat during the day, but at night it would release heat that naturally exists inside of most covalent compounds.
C
The wall would absorb extra heat during the day when the sun is out, then release the heat back into the room when the sun goes down.
D
The wall would absorb extra heat during the day, and the wall would hold this heat in so that it cannot absorb any more heat from the night air.
Explanation
Paraffin wax can absorb heat when the room is warmer during the day and release that stored heat as the room cools at night. This heat transfer helps reduce temperature changes. Choice C describes this process; the wax does not contain heat that appears naturally, as choice B suggests, nor does it prevent heat transfer.
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