Water

Created by

Mee Chan

Cards (23)

what does water consist of
2 hydrogen atoms
covalently bonded to 1 oxygen atom
why is water a polar molecule
as it has an uneven distribution of charges
oxygen atoms has a slight - charge
hydrogen ends have a slight + charge
what happens when 2 water molecules are in close contact
their opposing charges attract each other forming a weak hydrogen bond
are hydrogen bonds weak
individually they're weak
but together they form a strong lattice framework
why do water molecules stick together
due to the formation of hydrogen bonds -> cohesion
Name the 7 properties of water
- surface tension
- universal solvent
- metabolite
- high SHC
- high LHC
- denisty
- transparency
What is surface tension
- water molecules form OH bonds w other water molecules
- BUT not w air molecules
- this cohesion produces an uneven distribution of force -> surface tension
What is universal solvent
- water is a solvent
- a polar molecule -> attract + dissolve other charged particles like ions + other polar molecules like glucose
What can water act as
An excellent transport medium
In animals what does blood do
Transport dissolved substances around the body
In plants what do xylem vessels do
Transport water + dissolved mineral ions
What substances are soluble in water
- glucose
- sodium chloride
- maltose
- globular protein (enzyme)
What substances are insoluble in water
- lipids
- cellulose
- fibrous protein (hair)
Why won’t lipids dissolve in water
- non-polar -> so repelled by water
- water is unable to interact with them
What is metabolite
- water is a reactant in photosynthesis + hydrolysis
- produced during aerobic respiration + condensation reaction
What is water’s high specific heat capacity about
- has this due to lots of energy being needed to break the H bonds
- and increase the temp of water
Why is a high SHC useful
- provides a more stable environment got aquatic organisms
- prevents dramatic changes in temp
- allows enzymes to efficiently catalyse at temps inside body without becoming denatured
What is water’s high latent heat capacity about
- has a high latent heat capacity
- as lots of heat energy is needed to break the H bonds
- and change water from a LIQUID -> VAPOUR
What does a high LHC mean for water
Lots of heat energy is required for water to evaporate from the surface of an organism
Why is a high LHC useful
- provides significant cooling effect for organism
- as heat removed from body to evaporate water
what is density in water
- water is less dense in it’s SOLID state (ice) compared to LIQUID water
Why is a low density in water useful
- forms and insulating layer allowing aquatic organisms to survive in water underneath ice
- therefore providing a habit for organisms like polar bears
what does transparency do for water
- transparent substance
- allows light to pass through to water plants
- enables photosynthesis