Water Properties

Surface tension : is the tendency of liquid surfaces at rest to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. Surface tension is what allows objects with a higher density than water such as razor blades and insects to float on a water surface without becoming even partly submerged

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Capillary action helps bring water up into the roots. But capillary action can only "pull" water up a small distance, after which it cannot overcome gravity. To get water up to all the branches and leaves, the forces of adhesion and cohesion go to work in the plant's xylem to move water to the furthest leaf.

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​ What is capillary action?

​Specific heat is defined by the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance 1 degree Celsius (°C). Water has a high specific heat, meaning it takes more energy to increase the temperature of water compared to other substances.

​Specific heat is....

​Water is called the "universal solvent" because it is capable of dissolving more substances than any other liquid

​Universal solvent

density is the weight of a substance for a specific volume. The density of water is roughly 1 gram per milliliter but, this changes with temperature or if there are substances dissolved in it.

​Density of Water

In the case of water, hydrogen bonds form between neighboring hydrogen and oxygen atoms of adjacent water molecules. The attraction between individual water molecules creates a bond known as a hydrogen bond.

​Covalent bonds work with water when two atoms—in this case oxygen and hydrogen—share electrons with each other.

​​covalent bond wrk with water

​A water molecule has three atoms: two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom.

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Three atoms of water and their charges image