Water Properties and Behaviors

Water Properties Study Guide

1. 📌 Essentials

• Water (H₂O) is a polar molecule with a bent shape, enabling bonding.
• Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions between water molecules, responsible for many properties.
• Cohesion: water molecules stick together; adhesion: water sticks to other surfaces.
• Water's high specific heat resists temperature changes.
• Density of water is 1 g/mL; ice floats because it is less dense.
• Water is a universal, dissolving polar and ionic substances.
• Capillary action enables water to move upward in small tubes.
• Surface tension results from hydrogen bonding at the water surface.
• Water's polarity causes it to dissolve many biological molecules.
• Ice insulates aquatic life by floating on water.

2. 🧩 Key Structures & Components

• Water Molecule (H₂O) — polar molecule with slight positive charge on H, negative on O.
• Hydrogen Bonds — attractions between the oxygen of one water molecule and hydrogen of another.
• Polar Covalent Bonds — bonds within water molecules causing polarity.
• Surface Tension — the elastic-like surface formed by hydrogen bonds.
• Capillary Tubes — small channels where water moves via cohesion and adhesion.
• Ice Crystal Lattice — structured arrangement of water molecules in ice, less dense than liquid water.