Question

What are the four main properties of water, and what causes them?

Answer 1

Water is universal solvent, transparent and colorless .Earth constitute nearly 71% of water.

MAJOR PROPERTIES OF WATER AND CAUSES

>Tendency To Form Hydrogen Bonds

Water molecules have the property to form hydrogen bond among themselves.Hence, this provides a cohesive force that makes water, liqui d at room temperature.Due to this property only the water has a higher heat of vaporization, boiling and melting point than any other common solvent.

>Universal Solvent

Polar molecules get easily dissolved in water as they displace hydrogen bonding among the water molecules by forming hydrogen bonding between solute and the hydrogen atom of water.This happens due to the presence of hydroxyl group (OH) in polar solutes but nonpolar compounds lacks this group.hence, unable to dissolve in water.

Water can also be used as the reactant in various biological processes like the production of ATP inside the cell, enzymatic action(hydrolysis reaction) etc.

>Adhesion Property

Water has the adhesion property i.e tendency to stick to any other surface this also occurs due to hydrogen bonding.Adhesion occurs naturally in trees which help leaves to take water from the roots.This phenomenon occurs by capillary action which allows water to stick to xylem (water-transporting tissue in plants) and further it reaches leaves from roots.

>High specific heat capacity

Water has high specific heat capacity due to presence hydrogen bonds.Due to this property, it is used as a coolant in car radiators as it a large amount of heat.

In cold countries, wine bottles are kept in water to prevent wine from freezing.