Properities of water

What are the properties of water?

1) Cohesion/ Adhesion

2) High Specific Heat

3) Less Dense as a Solid

4) An Excellent Solvent

How do the properties of water contribute to the upward movement of water in a tree?

Hydrogen bonds hold neighboring water molecules together.

This cohesion helps the chain of water molecules move upward against gravity in water conducting cells as water evaporates from the leaves

Adhesion between water molecules and the walls of the water conducting cells also helps counter gravity

What is an emergent property?

Interactions with other things for a bigger picture

Cohesion

Water molecules holding together by making hydrogen bonds with another water molecule

Cohesion example in life

1) Some animals being able to walk, stand, or run on water without breaking the surface.

2) Water at the stoma of a leaf creating a pull on surrounding water molecules

Adhesion

Water molecules make hydrogen bonds with different molecules

Adhesion example in life

1) When water is pulled up the xylem by the process of transpiration, the water clings to the sides of the xylem, which carries water from the roots to leaf

Cohesion and Adhesion example in life

Plant Transpiration! (Basically just combine the other two examples)

Water is allowed to have properties because it is THIS type of molecule…

polar molecule

Why is water a polar molecule?

Because of its unequal sharing of electrons and it's V-shape

Because water is a polar molecule, it's able to form THIS, either with itself or other charged molecules…

hydrogen bonds

What allows hydrogen bonds to form?

Polarity

Up to how many hydrogen bonds can each water molecule make?

4

What does "high specific heat" mean?

Temperature regulation

High specific heat example in life

1) Water can absorb or release large amounts of heat with only a slight change in it's temperature, like how the ocean resists temperature during different seasons.

Why would Water want to resist temperature changes?

To maintain homeostasis

Why can water regulate temperature (high specific heat)?

Because of hydrogen bonds. Heat has to be absorbed to break hydrogen bonds

An example in biology where water is a good solvent…

Blood because it's plasma holds many solutes, like nutrients. These nutrients (vitamins, minerals…) are pumped through the body to supply energy.

What does "less dense as a solid" mean?

Compared to other solids, ice is about 10% less dense than water and can float. When water freezes and it's molecules are no longer moving enough to break their hydrogen bonds, causing it to maintain it's buoyancy.

Are water molecule hydrogen bonds unstable or stable?

UNSTABLE

Are ice hydrogen bonds unstable or stable?

STABLE (with more space between the atoms)

Less dense as a solid example in life

During the summer, only the few upper centimeters of the ocean surface would thaw, allowing life to exist under the frozen surface.

Why is water an excellent solvent

It quickly forms hydrogen bonds with charged and polar covalent molecules

Water is an excellent solvent example in life

Blood's plasma holds solutes, like nutrients. These nutrients (vitamins, minerals…) are dissolved into the bloodstream and pumped through the body to supply energy.