Lecture 1.2: Water and Ions

Question 1

What are the three types of bonds? Explain each.

Answer 1

Nonpolar covalent bonds - no difference in charge, electrons are shared evenly. Polar covalent: partial charges due to a difference in charge. Ionic: metal to nonmental bond. Full charges due to the transfer of electrons

Question 2

Why does water have a small electrical conductivity?

Answer 2

Due to proton hopping. This is the mechanism by which protons hop from one water molecule to another in a dynamic fashion. The instability of the water molecules due to proton hopping makes them poor conductors of electricity.

Question 3

What makes water a good solvent?

Answer 3

Its polar nature. When salts, bases, and acids are in water, they dissociate and hydration shells are formed around them. Hydration shells are also dynamic