Water and Life Flashcards
Heat
The amount of energy associated with the movement of the atoms and molecules in a body of matter.
Four Properties of Water
- High Heat Capacity
- Water is a Solvent
- Water is Cohesive
- Frozen Water is Less Dense than Liquid Water
Temperature
A measure of the intensity of heat, reflecting the average speed of molecules.
Evaporative Cooling
The property of a liquid whereby the surface becomes cooler during evaporation (liquid to gas).
Cohesion
Tendency of molecules to stick together. It results from hydrogen bonds. Important for surface tension and water transport in plants.
Solvent
Dissolving agent in a solution.
Solute
Substance that is dissolved in a solution.
Solution
Liquid consisting of homogenous mixture of two or more substances: solvent and solute.
Aqueous Solution
A solution in which water is the solvent.
Acid
A substance that increases the hydrogen ion (H+) concentration in a solution (lower pH).
Base
A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in solution (raises pH).
pH scale
Measure of relative acidity of a solution ranging from zero (most acidic) to fourteen (most basic).
Buffers
A chemical substance that resists changes in pH by accepting hydrogen ions from or donating hydrogen ions to solution.
