Water Flashcards
What atoms are in water?
One oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms
Which atom is negatively charged and which are positive?
Oxygen is negative, hydrogen is positive
What is a water molecule
Polar - it has an unequally distributed charge
What is the positively charged end of a water molecule attracted to?
The negative ends of surrounding molecules
What is the type of bonding present in a water molecule?
Hydrogen bonding
What does hydrogen bonding in water result in?
Many of the properties of water, including being liquid at room temperature
What are hydrophilic substances?
Molecules or ions that have a charge and can therefore dissolve in water
Molecules that don’t have a charge (like fats) can/can’t dissolve in water and are called what?
They can’t dissolve in water and are called hydrophobic
What does water have that is very high?
Water has a very high specific heat capacity
What is the definition of specific heat capacity?
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1cm3 of water by 1 degree celcius
Why is SHC so high in water?
Because a large amount of energy is required to break the hydrogen bonds in water
A large amount of energy causes a small/large increase in temperature of water?
Small increase - so water warms up and cools down slowly
What are the two advantages of high SHC in water?
It helps organisms avoid rapid changes in their internal temperature. It also enables organisms to maintain a steady temperature even when the temperature of their surroundings varies considerably.
