H2O Just Add Water

Chemical Make-up of Water

Polarity Intramolecular Intermolecular Oxygen is an extremely electronegative element and therefore attracts electrons more intensely than the hydrogen does. Unequal sharing of electrons causes the oxygen side of the molecule to have a negative charge and the hydrogen side to have a positive charge. The negatively charged oxygen atoms attract the positive charged hydrogen molecules in other atoms as well. These separate water molecules are then connected by hydrogen bonding. 8/22/2019 Add a footer

The Properties of Water

High Specific Heat The specific heat of a substance is the amount of heat energy needed to be absorbed for 1 gram of the substance to increase in temperature by 1 degree Celsius. Since waters specific heat is so high, it is not very easy to increase its temperature. This helps prevent large bodies of water from completely evaporating, allowing lentic environments to be much more stable. 8/22/2019 Add a footer

High Heat of Vaporization Heat of vaporization of is the amount of heat required to convert one gram of a substance from a liquid form to a gaseous one. Water takes about 580 calories to vaporize from STP This high amount heat needed is caused by the high strength of the hydrogen bonds! 8/22/2019 Add a footer

Universal Solvent Since water is one of the most polar molecules, it can dissolve all other ionic and polar substances. Water cannot dissolve lipids because lipids are polar molecules and do not respond to water’s polarity. 8/22/2019 Add a footer

Cohesion and Adhesion Water molecules are very strongly attracted to each other. This causes surface tension on the surfaces of bodies of water. Water molecules are also very attracted to other polar molecules. This causes capillary action that allows water to travel straight up through small openings. 8/22/2019 Add a footer

Ice is Less Dense than Water Most substances are more dense in their solid form when the molecules in thereof are closer to each other. But for water, its solid form (ice) is less dense and is able to float on water. The hydrogen bonds form crystal lattice structures when cooled enough that cause ice to expand instead of compress. 8/22/2019 Add a footer