Flashcards- Ch 3 Properties of Water

Front

Describe the structure of water molecules.

Back

Front

Surface tension of water

Back

Front

number of hydrogen bonds each water molecule can form

Back

Front

Compounds that are hydrophilic

Back

Front

Ionic compounds and water

Back

Front

Polar compounds and water

Back

Front

"Like dissolves like"

Back

This phrase means that substances with similar properties (e.g., polarity) tend to dissolve in each other.

Polar substances have charge so they can dissolve other substances that also have charge, such as other polar compounds or ionic compounds. Ex: water can dissolve sugars or salts but it cannot dissolve oil since oil is nonpolar.

Nonpolar substances lack charge so they can dissolve other nonpolar substances. Ex: vegetable oil can be used to remove tar skin, such as your feet if you step on it at the beach.

Front

Hydrophobic compounds

Back

Front

Nonpolar compounds and water

Back

Front

Water is a versatile solvent due to its polarity.

Back

Water's polarity allows it to form shells around charged or other polar molecules. It can dissolve a lot of different substances and is often called "the universal solvent" or "the solvent of life".