Properties of Water Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on the special chemical properties of water and their roles in supporting biological processes.

Polarity

The unequal sharing of electrons, which causes water to have a slight charge.

Cohesion

A property where water sticks to water because of hydrogen bonds, creating surface tension and contributing to capillary action.

Adhesion

A property where water sticks to other things due to hydrogen bonds, making water sticky and causing capillary action.

Universal Solvent

The property of water allowing it to dissolve more substances than any other solvent, including ionic substances, salt, and oxygen, which supports the transport of nutrients in the blood.

Expansion upon Freezing

The property where ice is less dense than liquid water, allowing ice to float on water and serve as a blanket keeping water warm for the survival of aquatic life in winter.

Temperature Modification

The property concerning the heat required to raise the temperature of water, allowing water to absorb lots of heat without becoming too hot, aiding temperature regulation in organisms.

Capillary Action

The process driven by cohesion and adhesion that makes water travel up plant stems and veins to help plants grow and transport water.