Quiz: Water and Its Properties

A scientist observes that when oil is mixed with water, the oil forms droplets that float on the surface rather than dissolving. This occurs because:

• Oil molecules are polar and water molecules are nonpolar

• Oil molecules are nonpolar and cannot form hydrogen bonds with polar water molecules

• Oil has a higher density than water

• Water has too high of a specific heat to dissolve oil

During a harsh winter, a lake freezes over but fish continue to survive underneath the ice. This survival is possible primarily because:

• Ice conducts heat from the atmosphere to warm the water below

• Fish can breathe through the ice layer

• Ice is less dense than liquid water, creating an insulating layer that allows liquid water to remain below

• The high specific heat of water prevents the lake from freezing completely

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

A student notices that water droplets on a freshly waxed car hood form perfect spheres rather than spreading out. This phenomenon demonstrates:

• Adhesion between water molecules and the car surface

• Cohesion between water molecules creating high surface tension

• The nonpolar nature of water molecules

• Water's ability to act as a universal solvent

Plants are able to transport water from their roots to their leaves, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 meters in tall trees. Which combination of water properties makes this transport possible?

• High specific heat and cohesion

• Low density as a solid and adhesion

• Cohesion and adhesion working together

• Polarity and high specific heat

A researcher is studying why coastal areas tend to have more moderate temperatures throughout the year compared to inland areas. The most likely explanation involves water's:

• Ability to dissolve many substances as a universal solvent

• High specific heat capacity, which allows it to absorb and release large amounts of heat energy with minimal temperature change

• Polar molecular structure that creates hydrogen bonds

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5