AP Biology Unit 1 Water Properties

Front

What is surface tension?

Back

Surface tension is the tightness across the surface of water that allows insects to walk on it, caused by the cohesive forces between water molecules.

Front

Why do water molecules stick together?

Back

Water molecules stick together because one side has a positive charge (hydrogen) and the other side has a negative charge (oxygen), leading to hydrogen bonding.

Front

How do large bodies of water affect climate?

Back

Large bodies of water absorb heat in the summer and slowly release that heat in the winter, helping to moderate nearby climates.

Front

What property causes water to bead up on a penny?

Back

Water beads up on the surface of a penny due to high surface tension, which is a result of cohesive forces between water molecules.

Front

Why does ice float on liquid water?

Back

Ice floats on liquid water because its solid form is less dense than its liquid form, due to the arrangement of water molecules in ice.

Front

Define adhesion in the context of water.

Back

Adhesion is the property of water that allows it to stick to other substances, such as the sides of a glass or plant tissues.

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 adhesion and cohesion.

Front

Explain the concept of polarity in water molecules.

Back

Polarity in water molecules refers to the uneven distribution of charge, where oxygen is slightly negative and hydrogen is slightly positive, leading to hydrogen bonding.

Front

What is the universal solvent property of water?

Back

Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, due to its polarity.

Front

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

Back

Water's high specific heat allows it to absorb and store large amounts of heat without significant temperature changes, stabilizing environmental temperatures.