Physical And Chemical Properties Of Water Essay

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Physical and Chemical Properties of Water
Physical
Water is the most cohesive non-metallic liquid. Hydrogen has a positive charge and Oxygen has a negative charge, so they attract each other and form a bond. Capillary action happens because of waters cohesiveness and stickiness. Capillary action occurs when the adhesion of water to the sides of the vessel it is in are stronger than the forces between the molecules. Another physical property of water is its color, water is actually not colorless, despite popular belief, but is actually slightly blue tinted. Waters color comes from its molecules absorbing the red end of the spectrum of light.
Chemical
Water acts as an insulator when it dissolves substances. If water holds a large amount of solutes …show more content…

The hydrogen and oxygen atoms share electrons, but the oxygen has more of the electrons than the hydrogens. Oxygen has more electrons, so it has a slightly negative charge, and hydrogen has less electrons, so it has slightly positive charge.
Water Molecules Geometric Shape and its Effects on Water Properties
Waters hydrogen and oxygen bond is on an angle of 104.5o, so the molecule is bent. The bent geometric shape and the increase of electrons on the oxygen side and the lack of electrons of the hydrogen side make water have very unique properties.
Water is a Universal Solvent
Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid, which is why it is known as the universal solvent. Water is the universal solvent because of its physical and chemical properties. The polarity of a water molecule, one side being positive and the other being negative, allows many different molecules to attract to either the positive or negative side. The strong attraction makes water a great solvent.
The High Boiling Point of Water in its Molecular …show more content…

The intermolecular forces between water molecules cause surface tension. Molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted to the molecules inside and to each other. Molecules inside the liquid have no force of attraction because other molecules surround them.

Water’s Phase Change and the Specific Properties of Each Phase
Water has the very unique physical property of being the only natural substance found as a solid, liquid, or gas. To change water from one phase to another you must have a great amount of energy. Water at or below 0oC is a solid (ice). Water at 0oC or above is a liquid. Water at 100oC is a gas (water vapor).
Gas
Water vapor is compressible, expandable, and takes up a lot more space than the other phases. It is free moving and has no definite shape or volume.
Liquid
Liquid water is not as easily expanded as gases. It will take the shape of the container it is put in and the motion of the particles is more restricted than those in gases, but less than those in solids.
Solid
Solid water is hard and less dense than its liquid form, which is rare. The particles do not change shape or expand/contract with the container it is put

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