Water

Water

1. Thermal properties:

   • High specific heat capacity; Hydrogen bonds
   • High boiling point
     • 100 Degrees
   • Excellent coolant e.g sweating, panting
   • Aquatic life can still live under ice; water is densest at 4 degrees- then shrinks
   • Requires lots of energy to seperate water + hydrogen molecules apart
   • Cohesive structure
     • The sticking together of particles of same substance.

2. Cohesive properties:

   • Water molecules stick together --> Hydrogen bonds
     • Water: dragged up via Xylem vessels to top leaves of trees
   • Surface tension
     • Living things can live on surface of ponds & streams e.g. pondskater

3. Solvent properties:

   • Universal solvent
     • Can dissolve many substances esp POLAR ones.
       • POLAR: Substances that have + & - charges in molecular structure.
     • Only HYDROPHOBIC substances DON'T dissolve in water
   • Metabolic reactions happen in AQUEOUS solutions
   • Many substances can be transported around if dissolved in SAP/BLOOD

4. Transports materials e.g. blood, sap

   • Supports plant structure
     • Used in photoshynthesis
       • 6CO2 + 6H2O ------> C6H1206 + 6O2
       • Carbon Dioxide + Water -------> Glucose + Oxygen
   • Hydrogen (slightly +) attracted to Oxygen (slightly -) ---> Covalent bonding between them
     • Water is stable structure; numerous HYDROGEN bonds
     • Water structure is DIPOLAR
       • Electrically neutral molecule carrying + & - charge

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