Properties of Water | Polarity | Hydrogen Bonds | Adhesion & Cohesion
2 Minute Classroom・2 minutes read
Water, also known as H2O, is a polar molecule with oxygen having a net negative charge and hydrogen a net positive charge, creating properties like cohesion, adhesion, high heat capacity, and being a universal solvent. Its cohesion and adhesion properties allow water to attract itself and other surfaces, while its high heat capacity enables it to absorb heat and moderate temperature changes, making it a universal solvent that can dissolve a wide range of substances.
Insights
- Water's polarity, driven by the arrangement of oxygen and hydrogen atoms, underpins its unique properties such as cohesion, adhesion, high heat capacity, and being a universal solvent, making it essential for various biological and chemical processes.
- Cohesion enables water molecules to stick together, while adhesion allows water to interact with other surfaces, showcasing its ability to climb through capillary action. Additionally, water's high heat capacity and universal solvent properties play crucial roles in regulating temperature and dissolving a wide array of substances, respectively.
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Recent questions
What are the components of water?
Oxygen and hydrogen atoms
What is cohesion in water?
Attraction to itself due to hydrogen bonds
What is adhesion in water?
Attraction to other surfaces
What is the high heat capacity of water?
Absorbing heat and moderating temperature changes
What does it mean for water to be a universal solvent?
Ability to dissolve a wide range of substances
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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 polarity allows water molecules 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 heat and moderate temperature changes, while its ability as a universal solvent allows it to dissolve a wide range of substances, including hydrophilic and polar molecules like sugars and salts.
