Properties/Structure of Water

charges

overall neutral charge, slightly positive charge on hydrogens (2), slightly negative charge on oxygen

bonds

hydrogen bonds form (2 H, 1 O), polar covalent molecule (unequal sharing of electrons)

high specific heat capacity

amount of heat required to raise/lower temperature of a substance / water has high heat capacity (needs lots of energy to raise temp) / keeps temperatures of oceans stable

high heat of vaporization

sweating → evaporation of water, cooling body down / allows body temperature to be maintained in living organisms

high boiling point

boiling point at 100 C, melting point at 0 C / slow change of temp allows organisms to adjust to their environment

high freezing point

water is less dense as a solid than a liquid → when water freezes, it expands & forms lattice structure (lighter) / ice floats, allowing or organisms to live in lakes & ponds when they freeze (insulates heat)

solvent properties

universal solvent → polarity of water molecules so many diff substances can dissolve in it / hydrophilic substances = soluble in water (ionic compounds & polar molecules more attracted to water than each other) / hydrophobic substances = insoluble in water

cohesion

holds together molecules of the same substance → water molecules stick tg bc of hydrogen bonds / creates surface tension / allows organisms to walk on top of pond, allows water to be pulled to top of trees (xylem)

adhesion

water adheres to other polar molecules (like cellulose) / water moves up plant by capillary action (capillary action = both cohesion & adhesion) / adhesion = adhesive = sticky