Properties of Water Quiz

Study Notes

High Specific Heat
- Water resists changes in temperature, allowing it to absorb or release a significant amount of heat without drastically changing its temperature.
- It cools and heats slowly, making it a stable environment for aquatic organisms.
High Heat of Vaporization
- A considerable amount of heat energy is required to evaporate water, which helps regulate temperature in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- This property plays a crucial role in processes like sweating and cooling mechanisms in organisms.
High Adhesion Properties
- Water molecules exhibit strong adhesion, meaning they can stick to different substances.
- This characteristic is vital for the movement of water against gravity, enabling its flow from plant roots to leaves.
Universal Solvent
- Water is known as the universal solvent due to its highly polar nature, allowing it to dissolve a wide variety of polar and ionic substances.
- This property is essential for biological processes, including nutrient transport and chemical reactions in cells.
Strong Cohesion Tension
- Water molecules tend to stick to each other, which creates surface tension.
- This cohesion allows water to travel long distances up a tall tree from the roots to the leaves efficiently, without relying on external energy sources.