Amoeba Sisters: Properties of Water and Their Effects

What property of water allows it to form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules?

• High specific heat

• Cohesion

• Polarity

• Adhesion

How do water molecules move upwards through a plant's xylem against gravity?

• Through osmosis and diffusion.

• By forming hydrogen bonds with each other (cohesion) and with the xylem walls (adhesion).

• Due to the plant's high specific heat.

• By evaporative cooling from the roots.

Why does ice float on water, and how does this benefit aquatic organisms?

• Ice is denser than liquid water, allowing organisms to swim below it.

• Ice expands when it freezes, becoming less dense and forming an insulating layer.

• Ice has a lower specific heat, which helps to warm the water below.

• Ice forms strong covalent bonds, trapping oxygen for aquatic life.

What property of water helps stabilize temperatures in aquatic environments and within organisms?

• Its ability to act as a universal solvent.

• Its high surface tension.

• Its high specific heat.

• Its cohesive properties.