Question

Chapter 2 discusses three important properties of water: cohesiveness, temperature-stabilizing capacity, and general solvent. How is hydrogen bonding responsible for each?

This is for a cell biology course. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Water molecule is polar in nature. Oxygen atom has partial negative charge and hydrogen atom has partial positive charge. This results in intermolecular hydrogen bonding. This property accounts for the cohesiveness, the temperature-stabilizing capacity and the solvent properties of water.

(A) cohesiveness  
Water molecules show cohesion which is the bonding of water molecules to neighboring molecules
It is due to hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonds hold several water molecules toghether.

(B) the temperature-stabilizing capacity
Water moderates air temperature. It absorbs heat from air that is warmer and releases the stored heat to air that is cooler.
Heat is absorbed when hydrogen bonds break
Heat is released when hydrogen bonds form
A calorie of heat causes a very small change in temperature as it used to break H bonds before the molecules can start moving faster.
The specific heat of water is very high.

(C) Water is universal solvent. When a polar non ionic solid such as is added to water, it can form hydrogen bonds with water. This helps in the dissolution of the solid in water.