SP25 Water Properties Flashcard

Front

What is surface tension?

Back

Surface tension is the tightness across the surface of water that allows objects, like paper clips, to float. It is caused by the cohesive forces between water molecules.

Front

What is adhesion in the context of water?

Back

Adhesion is the property of water that describes its attraction to other substances, allowing it to stick to surfaces.

Front

What is a solvent? Provide an example.

Back

A solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. An example of a solvent is water.

Front

What is cohesion in water molecules?

Back

Cohesion refers to the tendency of water molecules to stick to each other due to hydrogen bonding, which allows for phenomena like water droplets.

Front

What is a polar covalent bond?

Back

A polar covalent bond is a type of chemical bond where electrons are shared unequally between atoms, resulting in a molecule with a slight electrical charge.

Front

Define capillary action.

Back

Capillary action is the ability of water to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces, often seen in plants as water moves up from roots to leaves.

Front

What is the difference between cohesion and adhesion?

Back

Cohesion is the attraction between water molecules, while adhesion is the attraction between water molecules and other substances.

Front

What is the significance of water being a polar molecule?

Back

Water's polarity allows it to dissolve many substances, making it an excellent solvent and essential for biological processes.

Front

Explain the term 'solution' in chemistry.

Back

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, where one substance (the solute) is dissolved in another (the solvent).

Front

What role does electronegativity play in determining bond type?

Back

Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons. It helps determine whether a bond is ionic, covalent, or polar covalent based on the difference in electronegativity between atoms.