Water and Aqueous Systems

Front

What is an aqueous solution?

Back

An aqueous solution is a solution in which water is the solvent.

Front

What is the significance of water's polarity?

Back

Water's polarity allows it to dissolve many ionic and polar substances, making it an excellent solvent.

Front

Define surface tension in the context of water.

Back

Surface tension is the cohesive force at the surface of a liquid that causes it to behave as if it were covered with a stretched elastic membrane.

Front

What role do hydrogen bonds play in water's properties?

Back

Hydrogen bonds contribute to water's high surface tension, high specific heat capacity, and unique density behavior.

Front

Explain why potassium chloride (KCl) dissolves in water.

Back

KCl dissolves in water because the positive and negative ions are attracted to the polar water molecules, separating and surrounding the ions.

Front

What is specific heat capacity?

Back

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Front

How does water's high specific heat capacity benefit the environment?

Back

Water's high specific heat capacity helps regulate temperatures in the environment, preventing drastic temperature changes.

Front

What is the difference between cohesion and adhesion?

Back

Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same substance, while adhesion is the attraction between molecules of different substances.

Front

Why is water considered a universal solvent?

Back

Water is considered a universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid due to its polarity.

Front

What is the effect of temperature on the solubility of gases in water?

Back

As temperature increases, the solubility of gases in water generally decreases.