A1.1 Water Flashcards
What is the molecular formula of water?
H2O, two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom
Is oxygen slightly negative or slightly positive?
Slightly negative
Is hydrogen slightly negative or slightly positive?
Slightly positive
What is cohesion in the context of water?
Water molecules stick together
What causes surface tension?
Cohesion
What does cohesion allow bugs to do?
Walk on water
What is adhesion in the context of water?
Water sticks to other surfaces
How does adhesion help plants?
Adhesion helps water move up the plant stem in capillary action.
What are the thermal properties of water?
High latent heat of vaporization and high specific heat capacity
What is high specific heat capacity?
Water absorbs a lot of heat before changing temperature.
What is high latent heat of vaporization?
Water requires a lot of energy to evaporate.
Why is high specific heat capacity important?
Water not changing temperature easily helps to regulate temperature in organisms and their environments.
Why is high latent heat of vaporization important?
Important for cooling, e.g sweating in humans
What does water being a universal solvent mean?
Water can dissolve many substances
Why is water having solvent properties important?
It is important for chemical reactions in cells and transport in the blood.
What are some examples of chemical reactions in cells where water is essential?
Photosynthesis, respiration, enzyme function
What are some examples of things that water dissolves into the blood?
Glucose, amino acids, vitamins, oxygen and carbon dioxide.
What is less dense, water or ice?
Ice
Why is ice being less dense than water important?
The ice floats, this insulates the water below which allows marine life to survive in the cold.
