Properties of Water

Front

Why can a water strider skate along the top of a pond?

Back

Hydrogen bonds result in water cohesion (surface tension).

Answer explanation

Cohesion is where water molecules stick together because of hydrogen bonding.

Front

Attractions between water molecules are called ....

Back

Hydrogen bonds

Front

The attraction that causes water and other liquids to form drops on thin films is called ________________. This is also water’s ability to be attraction to other water molecules.

Back

cohesion

Answer explanation

Cohesion is where water molecules stick together because of hydrogen bonding.

Front

Why is water polar?

Back

The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water molecule a slight negative charge near its oxygen atom and a slight positive charge near its hydrogen atoms.

Answer explanation

Front

A bond created by the weak attraction of a slightly positive hydrogen atom to a slightly negative portion of another molecule is called ..........

Back

hydrogen bond

Answer explanation

Hydrogen bonds are due to water molecules being polar.

Front

The tendency of molecules of the same kind to stick to one another is called ....

Back

cohesion

Answer explanation

Co means together, so cohesion means water molecules sticking together.

Front

A molecule in which opposite ends have opposite electric charges is called .....

Back

polar molecule

Answer explanation

It is a polar molecule because of the unequal sharing of electrons creating a slightly negative pole and a slightly positive pole in the same molecule.

Front

Why is water considered a universal solvent?

Back

It dissolves most substances.

Answer explanation

A solvent is a liquid that allows other substances to dissolve into it. Remember, most chemical reactions happen in solution (dissolved in a liquid).

Front

Which characteristic of water will allow a paperclip to remain floating on the surface of water?

Back

surface tension

Answer explanation

Surface tension is where the force of the hydrogen bonds push up supporting the weight of the paper clip. As soon as the hydrogen bonds are broken, the paperclip will sink.

Front

The meniscus in a graduated cylinder or glass of water is due to...

Back

The water molecules being attracted to the glass and adhering to it

Answer explanation

COhesion is when water sticks to other water molecules. ADhesion is when water sticks to an additional surface.