Principles of Polarity and Properties of Water

Vocabulary flashcards covering the principles of molecular polarity, intermolecular interactions, and the biological and physical properties of water.

Intramolecular forces

Strong forces that occur within a molecule, such as ionic and covalent bonds.

Intermolecular forces

Interactions that occur between molecules, which are essential for molecular processes and the behavior of solutions.

Polarity

A condition where one side of a molecule has a different charge than the other side due to the uneven distribution of electrons, creating partial charges.

Nonpolar

A characteristic of molecules where electron density and shape are evenly distributed, often resulting in a symmetric structure like $O_2$ or hexane.

Like dissolves like

A chemical principle stating that a polar solute will only dissolve in a polar solvent, while a nonpolar solute will only dissolve in a nonpolar solvent.

Amphipolar

A term describing substances that are a little bit in between polar and nonpolar, allowing for mixing in specific environments like the cell membrane.

Hydrogen bond

A type of interaction where a hydrogen atom attracts to an electron-rich atom outside of its own covalent bond, typically involving oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur.

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same kind, which creates a tight network and results in high surface tension.

Adhesion

The attraction between molecules of a different kind, such as water molecules sticking to the walls of a glass tube.

High surface tension

A property of water resulting from strong hydrogen bonding that allows it to resist external forces and enables organisms like water skippers to stay atop the surface.

High heat of vaporization

The property describing the large amount of heat required to turn liquid water into a gas, which allows sweating to effectively cool the body.

Capillary action

The process where water naturally moves up a glass capillary tube because it is attracted to the walls of the tube.

Pogo nip

A phenomenon of frozen thaw or frozen water vapor that occurs when it gets extremely cold outside.