Properties of Water

Water is essential for life. Its special properties make water the single most important molecule in plant life. Which of the following properties of water enables it to move from the roots to the leaves of plants?

• A. Water expands as it freezes.

• B. Water is an excellent solvent.

• C. Water exhibits cohesive behavior.

• D. Water is able to moderate temperature.

Large bodies of water, such as lakes and oceans, do not quickly fluctuate in temperature. What is the reason for this phenomenon?

• A. Water is an acid.

• B. Water is a versatile solvent.

• C. Water has a high heat capacity.

• D. Water acts as a buffer.

Why does ice stay at the top of oceans instead of sinking to the bottom?

• A. Ice is colder than liquid water.

• B. Ice is less dense than liquid water.

• C. Ice is more dense than liquid water.

• D. Ice is warmer than liquid water.

Water is often called the "universal solvent" because many substances can be dissolved in water. What property of water allows it to be such a versatile solvent?

• A. purity

• B. polarity and cohesion

• C. high heat capacity

• D. expansion upon freezing

Capillary action is the result of adhesion. Which aspect of water is responsible for this?

• Nonpolar covalent bonds that enable water to dissolve other substances
  
• Polar covalent bonds that join molecules of water to other substances
• Hydrogen bonds between water and another substance
• Ionic bonds that enable electrons to flow through water and into another substance

Which of the following properties of water enables it to move from the roots to the leaves of plants?

• Water expands as it freezes.
• Water is an excellent solvent.
• Water exhibits cohesive behavior.
• Water moderates temperature.

Water striders can walk across the surface of calm water. Their feet push the surface of the water down slightly, but they do not break the surface. Why?

• The insects are light enough so they do not break the hydrogen bonds holding the water molecules together
  
• The insects actually use their wings to hover slightly above the water’s surface and they only skim it with their feet.
• The insect’s feet are non-polar, so they are repelled by the polar water molecules and are pushed away from the water’s surface.
• The insects are small enough to see the individual water molecules, so they are able to step carefully from one molecule to the next
  

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

What word describes when water is attracted to other substances?

• cohesion
• adhesion
• capillary action
• surface tension

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5

Why can water have no net charge but have slight charges in different parts of the molecule?

• The oxygen end is slightly negative and the hydrogen end is slightly positive
• The hydrogen end is slightly negative and the oxygen end is slightly positive
• The hydrogen and oxygen ends change in polarity
• Because it is hydrophobic

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Attractions between water molecules are called

• Covalent bonds
• Ionic bonds
• Polar bonds
• Hydrogen bonds

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1