Properties of Water and Its Importance

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary related to the properties of water, its molecular structure, and its significance in biological systems.

Dipole Moment

A measure of the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule, causing it to have a partial positive charge at one end and a partial negative charge at the other.

Cohesion

The binding together of like molecules, often seen in water due to hydrogen bonding, allowing water molecules to stick together.

Surface Tension

The elastic tendency of a fluid surface that makes it acquire the least surface area possible, stronger in water due to cohesive forces.

Xylem

Tubular structures in plants responsible for the transport of water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

Adhesion

The attraction between water molecules and solid surfaces, allowing water to stick to those surfaces and move in response to it.

Capillary Action

The movement of water within spaces of a porous material due to the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.

Hydrophilic Substances

Substances that have an affinity for water and can dissolve in it, typically due to charged particles or polar molecules.

Hydrophobic Interactions

Weak interactions that occur between water molecules that do not mix well with water, causing them to group together.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of energy required to change the temperature of 1 g of water by 1°C; water has a high specific heat due to hydrogen bonds.

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, which is influenced by internal friction and is higher in water than in organic solvents.