Properties of Water.

Nota:

• "High specific heat"is the amount of heat a substance must absorb to increase 1 gram of the substance by 1'C.

1. Because of this, water has the ability to resist changes in temperature, in order for water to change temperature it would have to absorb or lose a great amount of heat. This factor provides a stable environmental for the organisms around it or in it.
   1. It is responsible for the marine biome having the most stable temperature on Earth, creating a favorable environment for marine life.

1. Water must absorb a great amount of heat in order to evaporate, since it has a high specific heat.

   Nota:

   • This is true because of the strength of it hydrogen bonds, which must be broken (by absorbing heat) in order to the molecules to exit in the form of vapor.
   1. Water moderates the temperature of the land around it by absorbing heat on a hot day,
   2. Aids in evaporative cooling, since water absorbs heat, the evaporated water leaves the environment of body.
      1. Stabilizing the temperature of large bodies of water.
      2. Sweating on a hot day

Nota:

• Hydrogen bonding allows the water molecules to become attracted to one another and hold the substance together, a phenomenon also known as "cohesion" making this liquid more structured than other liquids.

1. Contributes to the transport of water and dissolved nutrients against gravity in plants

   Nota:

   • When water moves up a tall tree from the roots to the leaves, another water molecule will follow the first up the tree because of the hydrogen bonds attracting the water molecules, could also be described as "adhesion", the clinging of one substance to another.
2. Contributes to the high surface tension of water, which allows insects to walk on water without breaking the surface

   Nota:

   • "Surface tension" is the measure of how difficult it is to break or stretch the surface of a liquid.

1. Since water is a polar molecule, it can dissolve all polar and ionic substances. This is true because oxygen has a negative charge and will be attracted to anything positive, while hydrogen has a positive charge and will be attracted to anything negative.

   Nota:

   • To be "polar" means to have an unequal or unbalanced charge, which is true for water. "Ionic Bond" is the complete transfer of valence electrons between atoms.

Nota:

• This is due to hydrogen bonding, when frozen, the hydrogen bonds stop moving and leave an "arms length" amount of space between each water molecule, causing water to become less dense when frozen.

1. This property of water allows ice to float on water
   1. Helps to insulate bodies of water allowing life to exist under the frozen surface.
   2. When the ice melts, it causes a "spring overturn", allowing oxygen to return to the depths. This return of oxygen allows bacteria to release nutrients back into the water and return to the surface of the water. This makes life possible in the marine biome.