CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry

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TOPIC 11

WATER PROPERTIES
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Do you know
Water is universal solvent

Water has melting and boiling temperatures
with similar molecular weight and
structure.

Water has high surface tension
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Solvent Ability
Water dissolves a large amount of ionic and
molecular species. Any substance which can
H-bond with water san dissolve in it.

The solvent ability of water makes it an
important medium for transfer of nutrients
to plants, movement of chemical into and
out of organisms, weathering process.
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Hydrogen Bonding
The O-H bonds in water molecule is strong
and thus more energy is needed for melting
and boiling.

The H-bonding also
1.causes water expands by 9% when it
freezes
2. Density of ice (solid) is lower than liquid
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Importance of H-bonding
Any substance which can H-bond with
water can dissolve in it

Water has strong interactions with many
common environmental substances because
the molecules in their surfaces form H-bond.

Ice floats, so standing water freezes from
surface downwards. Why is it important?
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Intermolecular forces (van der Waals) pull
the water molecules together and inwards.
The net inward pull of liquid is called
surface tension.

It is again due to strong H-bonds.

Why is this property important?
Surface tension
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Self-ionization of water
Water undergoes dissociation to produce H
+

and OH
-
in equal amounts.

2H
2
O <--> H
3
O
+
+ OH
-

This property makes water electrical
conductor.