Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding

Flashcards covering key concepts related to the structure of water and hydrogen bonding, essential for understanding chemical properties and biological functions.

Matter

Anything that takes up space and has mass, including rocks, metals, oils, gases, and organisms.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical reactions, consisting of 92 naturally occurring elements.

Compound

A substance consisting of two or more different elements combined in a fixed ratio, such as H2O and NaCl.

Atomic number

The number of protons in an atom.

Atomic mass

The number of protons plus neutrons averaged over all isotopes of an element.

Cohesion

The attraction of molecules for other molecules of the same kind, contributing to surface tension in water.

Adhesion

The clinging of one molecule to a different molecule, allowing water to cling to plant cell walls.

Capillary action

The upward movement of water due to the forces of cohesion, adhesion, and surface tension.

Polarity

The characteristic of a molecule that allows it to have a partial positive charge in one area and a partial negative charge in another, such as in water.

Hydrogen bond

An intermolecular bond that forms between a partially positive hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom in another molecule.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons to itself.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between two atoms.

Ionic bond

The attraction between oppositely charged ions, resulting from the transfer of electrons.

High specific heat

The property of water that allows it to resist changes in temperature due to the formation and breaking of hydrogen bonds.

Evaporative cooling

The process by which water moderates climate and stabilizes temperature by requiring high heat to vaporize.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute to create a solution, with water being a versatile solvent.

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solvent.

Hydrophobic

A property of substances that do not interact or mix with water.

Hydrophilic

A property of substances that interact well with water.