Properties and Structure of Water

Vocabulary flashcards covering the molecular structure, polarity, hydrogen bonding, solvent characteristics, and transport function of water.

Dipolar Nature of Water

The property where electrons in a water ($H_2O$) molecule are unevenly distributed towards the oxygen atom, resulting in a slight negative charge on oxygen and a slight positive charge on hydrogen.

Hydrogen Bonds in Water

Attractions that join adjacent water molecules together through interactions between the slightly positive hydrogen atom of one molecule and the slightly negative oxygen atom of another.

Solvent Properties of Water

The capacity of water to dissolve ionic compounds and polar covalent compounds due to its dipolar nature.

Cohesive Forces

Forces produced by hydrogen bonding between adjacent water molecules that hold them together and allow water to function as a fluid.

Transport Medium

A biological function of water enabled by its combination of solvent action and cohesive forces driven by its dipolar nature.

Lattice Structure

The regular arrangement of ions (such as $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$) in an ionic compound that water molecules pull apart when dissolving the compound.