1.2 Life's Solvent Flashcards
what is the universal solvent
water
___ percent of your body is water
60%
all cellular processes occur in:
water
All living things contain:
water
5 properties of water
Cohesion, Adhesion, High specific heat capacity, High specific heat of vaporization, solid water is less dense than liquid water
Cohesion
force of
attraction between like
molecules (water molecules form H bonds with each other - results in surface tension
Example of cohesion
allows small insects/spiders
to walk on water
Adhesion
force of
attraction between
different molecules (water molecules may
also form hydrogen
bonds with other polar
molecules)
Example of adhesion
Helps plants transport
water (sticks to xylem), Allows water to dissolve
polar substances
High Specific Heat Capacity
water
can absorb large amounts of thermal
energy when heated (also releases
large amounts of thermal energy as it
cools)
Example of high specific heat capacity
Helps organisms maintain a
constant body temperature (holds
heat)
High Specific Heat of Vaporization
water absorbs large amounts of
heat as it evaporates
Example of High Specific Heat of Vaporization
Many organisms cool themselves
through evaporation (sweating)
Solid Water is Less Dense than Liquid Water
Water molecules form a lattice structure as it cools - spreads molecules farther apart - lowers density. Result: ice floats
Application of Solid Water is Less Dense than Liquid Water
- Prevents ice from killing aquatic organisms
- Snow has a very high insulation value – keeps
critters warm in winter
Polarity of water molecules
strongly polar
Water molecules surround other atoms/molecules and…
prevent
them from reforming
Hydrophilic
polar substances
that are attracted to water (ex.
Salt)
Hydrophobic
non-polar
substances that are not attracted
to water (ex. Oil)
pH scale:
measures
how ACIDIC or BASIC a
solution is
Acidic pH:
Low pH
pH of Basic:
High pH
Neutral
pH 7
_____ ions are responsible for acidity
H3O+
