Water exists in all three physical states only on planet earth, the only planet where life exists in the whole of universe. Water supports life on earth due its unique physical properties such as density, temperature variation, reflectivity, surface tension, specific heat, boiling and freezing points, as well as its chemical properties including its polar nature, dissolving ability and capacity to act both as an acid or base. The exceptional physical properties are all attributed to water’s specific chemical structure and bonding. Ice is less dense compared to liquid water and hence floats on top oceans, protecting aquatic life. Water temperature affects dissolved gases concentration, rate of photosynthesis and other metabolic activities, conductivity,
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Water in earth is found in liquid form in various water bodies, solid ice form in the Polar Regions, as well as vapor form in the atmosphere. While density of solidified form of any compound is more than its liquid state, density of water is maximum i.e. 1.0kg/m3 at 4°C, and it is less than 1 for ice at 0°C. During phase change from liquid to solid water molecules arrange themselves in an orderly fashion that increases volume and decreases density (Pidwerny, 2014). This peculiar property enables ice to float on water. Density of water at different temperatures is listed in table …show more content…
two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom. Oxygen atom can accept two electrons to attain stable octet shell configuration, and the two hydrogen atoms with 1 electron each can share them with the electron deficient oxygen atom through O-H bonds. Greater affinity of oxygen for electrons makes it partially negatively charged, and the hydrogen atoms attain a partial positive charge i.e. water molecule is polar (Shakashiri, 2011). Concentration of electrons on oxygen bend the O-H bonds, and H2O molecule remains stable attaining a bent V-shape, with the H-O-H bond angle being 104.5° (Shakashiri, 2011). This unique molecular shape and polar nature, depicted in Fig 1.enables water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with very high associated
Water in earth is found in liquid form in various water bodies, solid ice form in the Polar Regions, as well as vapor form in the atmosphere. While density of solidified form of any compound is more than its liquid state, density of water is maximum i.e. 1.0kg/m3 at 4°C, and it is less than 1 for ice at 0°C. During phase change from liquid to solid water molecules arrange themselves in an orderly fashion that increases volume and decreases density (Pidwerny, 2014). This peculiar property enables ice to float on water. Density of water at different temperatures is listed in table …show more content…
two hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom. Oxygen atom can accept two electrons to attain stable octet shell configuration, and the two hydrogen atoms with 1 electron each can share them with the electron deficient oxygen atom through O-H bonds. Greater affinity of oxygen for electrons makes it partially negatively charged, and the hydrogen atoms attain a partial positive charge i.e. water molecule is polar (Shakashiri, 2011). Concentration of electrons on oxygen bend the O-H bonds, and H2O molecule remains stable attaining a bent V-shape, with the H-O-H bond angle being 104.5° (Shakashiri, 2011). This unique molecular shape and polar nature, depicted in Fig 1.enables water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with very high associated