COPY: Water Solvent Properties Quiz

Water Properties and Acid-Base Chemistry

• The polar nature of water molecules, specifically the unequal sharing of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen atoms, allows them to form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules.
• The high surface tension of water is attributed to the cohesion between water molecules, which is a result of hydrogen bonding.
• The attraction between water and plant cell walls is known as adhesion.

Acid-Base Chemistry

• The uneven distribution of charge in a water molecule is explained by the concept of polarity.
• Cohesion contributes to the transport of nutrients against gravity in plants by allowing water to move up the xylem through the cohesion-tension mechanism.
• Water's high dielectric constant makes it a versatile solvent in biological systems.
• A hydrophilic substance is one that has an affinity for water.

Hydration Shells and Ion Formation

• In a hydration shell, each ion is surrounded by water molecules.
• When a hydrogen atom in a hydrogen bond shifts from one water molecule to the other, the process is known as hydrogen bond switching.
• The state of dynamic equilibrium in water refers to the constant formation and breaking of hydrogen bonds between water molecules.

Ion Formation and pH

• When a hydrogen atom shifts between two water molecules, a hydronium ion (H3O+) is formed.
• A hydrophobic substance is one that repels water.
• Strong acids completely dissociate in water, whereas weak acids only partially dissociate.
• A neutral solution has a pH of 7, at which the concentrations of H+ and OH- ions are equal.
• In water, H+ and OH- ions are in equilibrium, with a 1:1 ratio indicating neutrality.

pH and Acid-Base Reactions

• Biologists describe a solution as acidic, basic, or neutral based on its pH.
• Adding certain solutes, called acids, can decrease the pH of a solution by increasing the concentration of H+ ions.
• A pH value less than 7 indicates an acidic solution.