Water Properties Flashcards
Properties of water
Surface tension Density Solvent High specific heat capacity Latent heat of vaporisation Cohesion Adhesion Compression
Surface tension
Uneven distribution of force at boundary interface caused by a molecular bonding
Hydrogen bonds between water molecules creates higher surface tension on the water
Water surface forms a skin, strong enough to support small aquatic organisms
Density
Measure of mass/unit of volume
Hydrogen bonds between water molecules, when frozen pushes water molecules out in an open lattice, making it less dense, floats
Organisms can survive below surface, acts as insulator
Maintains circulation in large bodies of water, helps nutrient circulation
Solvent
A liquid substance which can dissolve a wide range of molecules
Can be a transport medium for polar molecules, causing dissociation
Removes metabolic waster such as urea, ammonia
High specific heat capacity
Amount of heat, in joules required to raise 1g of water by 1 degree
Takes in a large amount of energy before temperature rises
A lot of energy can be lost before temperature of water starts to fall
Temperature buffer, helps tissues maintain constant temperature
Latent heat of vaporisation
Amount of heat needed to turn substance into a gas
Evaporation allows organisms to maintain a constant body temp
Cohesion
Tendency of molecules of a substance to attract one another
Pulled inwards causing it to move upwards through xylem
4 hydrogen bonds formed with each water molecule
Adhesion
Tendency of molecules to be attracted to other molecules of a different type
Hydrogen bonds attracted to other molecules
Adhere to xylem walls for transpiration
Smaller the diameter of a tube, the higher it rises up, capillarity
Compression
Ability for particles to be squashed to decrease volume
Support medium for hydrostatic skeleton in earthworms, turgor pressure in plants
Water not easily compressed
