A P

B I O L O G Y

the

Properties of Water
By Briana Alberghine

Waters

Existence
Without water, life as we know it would not exist anywhere near the same we see it now. Water molecules are polar and are capable of forming hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, allowing for diversity. From these hydrogen bonds come many properties that water has, leading to the phenomenons of water.

Water Phenomena
There are many different phenomenons of water, eight that distinctively come to mind. However, for the purpose of this newsletter, I will only be discussing five phenomena and linking them back to the basic properties of water.

5 Phenomena Discussed:
1. Substances dissolving in water 2. Formation of the meniscus 3. Water droplets on surface forming beads 4. Separation of mixtures into layers 5. Survival of fish in lakes when water freezes

WATER PROPERTIES

AP BIOLOGY

Phenomena 1: Substances Dissolving in Water

Many substances. For example salt (NaCl) and sucrose, dissolve quickly in water. This phenomena is connected to waters properties to

Hydrogen Bonding
The hydrogen side of each water (H2O) molecule carries a slight positive electric charge, while the oxygen side carries a slight negative electric charge. This helps water dissociate ionic compounds into their positive and negative ions. The positive part of an ionic compound is attracted to the oxygen side of water while the negative portion of the compound is attracted to the hydrogen side of water.

Specific Heat

Salts dissolve quicker at higher temperatures, which can be connected with waters specific heat. The specific heat is the amount of heat per unit required to raise the temperature by one degree Celsius. At higher temperatures substances dissolve quicker because of the high speed of the molecules.

Formation of Meniscus due to Adhesion In a glass cylinder the water molecules have a greater
of the graduated cylinder as their attraction to the glass will allow (concave meniscus).

Phenomena 2: Formation of the Meniscus in a water column

attraction to the glass walls than to each other, therefore the water will travel as far up the glass walls
Adhesion is when water is attracted to other substances; in this case a glass cylinder. This attraction creates surface tension allowing a concaved meniscus. However, if cohesion between the water molecules is stronger than the attraction between the water and another substance, than a convex meniscus will occur.

WATER PROPERTIES

AP BIOLOGY

Phenomena 3: Water droplet formation of smooth surfaces

Cohesion: Hydrogen bond formation between water molecules
Cohesion refers to the attraction of water molecules to other water molecules. It turns out that this surface tension is the result of the tendency of water molecules to attract one another. The natural form of a water drop occurs in the "lowest energy state", the state where the atoms in the molecule are using the least amount of energy. For water, this state happens when a water molecule is surrounded on all sides by other water molecules, which creates a sphere or ball.

Phenomena 4: Separation of Mixtures into Layers

Since water is a polar molecule, there is an unequal sharing of electrons, resulting in a positive and negative end. This gives a water molecule a bent shape, making it a polar solvent. Oils are made of hydrocarbon chains, meaning theyre hydrophobic, or do not have an affinity to water. This hydrophobic characteristic of oils leaves it not to mix with water. The reason why the oil is on top of water has to do with their relative densities, it being less dense than water.
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WATER PROPERTIES

AP BIOLOGY

Waters greatest density occur at 4 degrees Celsius Ice is less dense than water, which is why ice sits and

Phenomena 5: Survival of fish in lakes during the winter

floats on the surface of water. The temperature of that body of water, however, determines the density of water. As the surface water cools, the less dense, warmer water will rise and replenish that colder water.

When the surface temperature drops to below the freezing point, the surface freezes and the ice thickens. The water below the ice will remain at around 4 degrees Celsius, allowing for life to continue with the needed amount of oxygen and warmth.

Citations:
"Water Drops: Cohesion and Adhesion of Water." Water Drops: Cohesion and Adhesion of Water. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013. Reece, Campbell. 7th AP Edition Biology. San Fransisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2005