The higher values of specific heat of water in comparison to other liquids is due to:
The higher values of specific heat of water in comparison to other liquids is due to H-bonding. Water is a polar molecule because oxygen bears partial negative charge and hydrogen bears partial positive charge. This results in extensive hydrogen bonding in water molecules between slightly negative oxygen and slightly positive hydrogen. This is the case for water because any heat energy given to water will go towards breaking those hydrogen bonds. Because the heat is spent breaking hydrogen bonds, it doesn't increase the kinetic energy of the molecules themselves very easily. Thus, the temperature of water doesn't increase as much as most other fluids - i.e. it has a high specific heat. H-bonding in H2O increases forces of attraction among molecules and develops abnormal properties.