Chapter 3: Water

four emergent properties of water

1. Cohesion and adhesion of water molecules

2. High specific heat

3. Ice is less dense than liquid water

4. Water is a great solvent

Cohesion of water molecules

What property of water contributes to its high surface tension?

high specific heat

How does water moderate temperature?

evaporative cooling

______occurs when water molecules with high kinetic energy evaporate, leaving behind cooler molecules. Hydrogen bonds allow water to absorb heat before evaporating.

crystalline; insulates

Why is ice less dense than liquid water, and why is this important for life on Earth?

Ice is less dense due to the hydrogen bonds forming a ______ structure, allowing it to float. This is crucial as it ______ water below, protecting aquatic life in cold conditions.

hydrophilic and hydrophobic

_____ substances are attracted to water and can dissolve in it, while _____ substances repel water and do not dissolve.

solution

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of a solute (substance dissolved) and a solvent (substance doing the dissolving).

molarity

Molarity (M) is calculated as moles of solute per liter of solution (mol/L).

pH

___ measures the acidity or basicity of a solution and is calculated as pH = -log[H+].

tenfold

A change of 1 in pH represents a ____ change in the concentration of H+ ions.

buffers

_____ are weak acids and their associated bases that can absorb or donate H+ ions to stabilize pH levels.

carbonic acid (H2CO3)

The buffer present in human blood is _________

0.4

A change in blood pH of ____ in either direction can be deadly, as life is sensitive to changes in pH.

nutrient availability

Soil pH affects ________ and can impact plant health and growth.

ocean acidification

___________ occurs due to CO2 absorption, leading to lower pH levels in ocean water, which can harm marine life.