Properties of Water

Question 1

Liquid

Answer 1

Hydrogen bonds are continually being made and broken.
Water has low viscosity so flows easily.
- provides habitats
- major component of tissues 
- effective transport medium

Question 2

Density

Answer 2

Ice is less dense from water due to its polar nature.

• provides stable habitat in winter
• layer of ice reduces heat loss from the body of water

Question 3

Solvent

Answer 3

Water is polar - positive and negative parts of the molecule are attracted to the positive and negative parts of the solute. Water molecules cluster around the solute so it dissolves. This allows molecules and ions to be transported around living things while dissolved in water.

Question 4

Cohesion and surface tension

Answer 4

Hydrogen bonding pulls the molecules together.
The water molecules at the surface are hydrogen bonded and are more attracted to the molecules beneath than the air molecules above. This means surface of water contracts and has the ability to resist force applied to it.

Question 5

High specific heat capacity

Answer 5

Water molecules are held together by strong hydrogen bonds so a lot of energy is required to increase the temperature. This allows aquatic organisms to have t stable environment to live.

Question 6

High latent heat of vaporisation

Answer 6

A large amount of energy is required to break hydrogen bonds so that water can evaporate.
Water can help cool living things and keep their temperature stable.