Properties of Water | Polarity | Hydrogen Bonds | Adhesion & Cohesion
2 Minute Classroom・2 minutes read
Water, or H2O, forms a polar molecule with unique properties such as cohesion, adhesion, high heat capacity, and acting as a universal solvent due to its structure and hydrogen bonds. These characteristics enable water to have cohesive attraction to itself, adhere to surfaces, climb narrow tubes through capillary action, absorb temperature changes, and dissolve various substances, making it essential for life.
Insights
- Water, with its unique molecular structure of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms, forms hydrogen bonds that result in properties like cohesion (attraction to itself) and adhesion (attraction to other surfaces), leading to capillary action.
- The high heat capacity of water enables it to absorb and release heat slowly, regulating air temperatures, while its role as a universal solvent allows it to dissolve various substances, including hydrophilic and polar molecules, showcasing its versatility in chemical interactions.
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Recent questions
What are the components of water?
Oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
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Summary
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Water: Polar Molecule with Unique Properties
- Water, also known as H2O, consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, forming a polar molecule with oxygen carrying a net negative charge and hydrogen a net positive charge. This structure allows water to create hydrogen bonds, leading to properties like cohesion, adhesion, high heat capacity, and being a universal solvent.
- Cohesion in water refers to its attraction to itself due to hydrogen bonds, while adhesion is its attraction to other surfaces, allowing water to climb up narrow glass tubes through capillary action. Water's high heat capacity enables it to absorb temperature changes, maintaining moderate air temperatures, and its ability as a universal solvent allows it to dissolve a wide range of substances, including hydrophilic and polar molecules.
