The Unique Properties of Water Hydrosphere

Hydrosphere Hydrosphere – the portion of Earth that contains water. Hydrology – the study of water

The Unique Properties of Water Polarity – uneven distribution of charges across a molecule The positive ends of the H tend to draw the negative ends of the O therefore water molecules tend to stick to one another

The Unique Properties of Water Adhesion – the tendency of water to stick to other substances. This causes water to move upward against gravity in plant stems and to be absorbed by paper towels.  It also causes water to adhere to spider webs

Cohesion The attractive force between water molecules This is caused by hydrogen bonds that form between the slightly positive and negative ends of neighboring molecules.  This is the reason why water is found in drops; perfect spheres.  It’s hard to imagine water behaving any other way. 

Surface Tension the force that acts on the particles at the surface of a material The tightness across the surface of the water caused by polar molecules pulling on one another

Capillary Action The process that moves water through a narrow porous space

Universal Solvent The quality of water that makes it able to dissolve more substances than any other solvent. Solvent- Substance doing the dissolving Solute-Substance being dissolved

Specific Heat The amount of heat needed to increase the temp. of a certain mass of a substance by 1 degree celcius. Water has a high specific heat Land has low specific heat

The Unique Properties of Water Density – the measure of mass of a substance per unit volume. Freshwater Density 1g/cm3

The Unique Properties of Water Buoyancy – ability of a fluid to exert an upward force on an object that is immersed in the fluid.