Property of water Universal solvent

High Heat Capacity

What causes it? Water is a universal solvent because of its polar arrangement of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. One side of the molecule, with the hydrogen atom, has a positive charge and the other side, with the oxygen, has a negative charge. Because of this, it can become attracted to and bond with many different molecules. Water has a high heat capacity because of the hydrogen bonds within the molecule, increasing the intermolecular force of the molecule.

Why is it important? Water is such a vital part of life. It is in almost all aspects of life, and plays many important roles. Because it can bond with many different molecules and dissolve many different things, it helps to transport important nutrients throughout different areas and cycles of the earth, both in humanly and in nature. This high heat capacity is important because it allows water to absorb heat during the day and only warm up a few degrees. This can help stabilize ocean temperatures, allowing marine life to be comfortable. This is important because it allows marine and aquatic life to live even when there are freezing conditions with ice. If the ice did not float, it would fall to the bottom of the water source. Then, the water above that would continue to freeze and fall just as the first layer did, and this would happen until the entire thing was ice, and life cannot life in that condition. Some organisms rely on this property of surface tension, as they live their lives walking on water. It also allows for easier transportation of water through various systems of organisms.

Ice floats

Ice floats in water because of a difference in densities. Ice is less dense than water, allowing it float in the water.

High surface tension

Capillary action

High surface tension occurs because of another property of water, cohesion. Cohesion causes water molecules to stick together. With the surface tension, these molecules are pulled inward by a force from the center of the molecule, creating that high surface tension with the tightly compacted water molecules. Capillary action occurs because of the intermolecular forces within water molecules, surface tension, adhesion, and cohesion, all allowing water to be tightly

This is important because organisms rely on water to survive. Water transports nutrients and minerals through organisms, and capillary action

compacted and flow through narrow spaces.

allows the water to pass through those tough, narrow spaces.