Water: Life's Solvent

Flashcards covering the properties of water, including cohesion, adhesion, heat capacity, density, solvent properties, and ionization.

Cohesion

Water molecules form hydrogen bonds with each other, leading to surface tension.

Adhesion

Water molecules form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, leading to capillary action.

High specific heat capacity

Due to hydrogen bonding, water absorbs thermal energy as its temperature increases or loses thermal energy as its temperature decreases.

High specific heat vaporization

Due to hydrogen bonding, liquid water absorbs thermal energy to become vapor (gas).

Ice water lattice

A structure formed below 0
Hydrogen bonds keep water molecules spread apart, reducing density and making solid water less dense than liquid water.

Hydration shells

Layers of water molecules placed around ions to prevent the molecule from staying intact (e.g., NaCl in H
O).

Hydrophobic

Non-polar molecules that are 'water fearing' and are forced into associations with each other to minimize contact with water.

Hydrophilic

Polar molecules that are 'water loving'.

Autoionization of water

Water reacting with other water molecules to form hydronium (H
O+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions.

Hydronium (H3O+)

An ion formed in water; a high concentration indicates properties of an acid (sour, conducts electricity, pH < 7).

Hydroxide (OH-)

An ion formed in water; a high concentration indicates properties of a base (bitter, slippery, conducts electricity, pH > 7).

Buffers

Chemicals that compensate for pH changes by accepting or donating H+ ions.