Properties of Water

Front

What is cohesion in the context of water properties?

Back

Cohesion refers to the attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding, which allows water to form droplets and creates surface tension.

Front

What is adhesion in the context of water properties?

Back

Adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other substances, which allows water to climb up surfaces, such as in capillary action.

Front

Define surface tension in relation to water.

Back

Surface tension is the property of water that allows it to resist external force due to the cohesive nature of its molecules, enabling small objects to float.

Front

What is capillary action?

Back

Capillary action is the ability of water to flow in narrow spaces against gravity, due to the combination of cohesion and adhesion.

Front

What is a base in terms of pH?

Back

A base is a substance that has a pH greater than 7, indicating it can accept protons or donate electron pairs.

Front

Explain why water is considered a universal solvent.

Back

Water is called a universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, due to its polar nature.

Front

What role does specific heat play in water's properties?

Back

Specific heat is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of water, which allows it to moderate temperature changes in the environment.

Front

How does water's density change when it freezes?

Back

Water expands and becomes less dense when it freezes, which is why ice floats on liquid water.

Front

What is the significance of water's high specific heat for living organisms?

Back

Water's high specific heat helps regulate temperature in organisms and environments, providing stability for ecosystems.

Front

Describe the process of transpiration in plants.

Back

Transpiration is the process where water evaporates from the leaves of plants, creating a negative pressure that pulls water upward from the roots.