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What are
the Properties of Water? Definition of Water
What is the definition of
water? It is the fluid which descends from the clouds in rain,
and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. The
Physical and
Chemical Properties are the
characteristics of a substance, like water, which distinguishes it from any
other substance. Most common substances, like water, exist as
States of Matter as
solids, liquids, gases and plasma. The solid phase of water is known as ice or snow. The gaseous
phase of water is known as water vapor or steam - see
Phase Changes.
Water Properties
- Why is water unique
Water is unique because it
is the only natural substance that can exist in three states of matter -
solid, liquid, and gas - at the temperatures normally found on Earth.
Water Properties
- What are the Physical Properties of Water?
What are the Physical
Properties of Water? The Physical properties of water are the characteristics
that can be observed without changing the substance into another
substance. Physical properties are usually those that can be observed using our
senses such as color, luster, freezing point, boiling point, melting point, density, hardness and odor. The Physical Properties of water are as follows:
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What are the Physical Properties of Water?
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Color |
Nearly colorless with a hint of blue |
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Odor |
None |
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Taste |
Bland |
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Density |
1.000 g/ml. The density of water is approximately one gram per
cubic centimeter |
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Boiling Point |
100 °C |
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Conductivity |
Water is a good conductor of heat |
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Compressibility |
The compressibility of water reduces the sea level
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Specific Heat |
Water has a high specific heat. Specific heat is the amount of
energy required to change the temperature of a substance |
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Surface Tension |
Water has a high surface tension - it is adhesive and elastic |
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Cohesion |
Water is attracted to other water |
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Adhesion |
Water can also be attracted to other materials |
Water Properties - What are the Chemical Properties of Water?
What are the Chemical
Properties of Water? They are the characteristics that
determine how it will react with other substances or change from
one substance to another. The better we know the nature of the substance the
better we are able to understand it. Chemical properties are only observable during a
chemical reaction. Reactions to substances may be brought
about by changes brought about by burning, rusting, heating, exploding, tarnishing
etc. The Chemical
Properties of water are as follows:
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What are the
Chemical Properties of Water? |
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Chemical
Formula |
H2O - two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom |
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Solvation |
Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid |
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pH |
Pure water has a neutral pH of 7, which is neither acidic nor
basic |
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Ionization |
Water weakly ionizes |
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Reactivity |
Metals such as gold, silver, copper, tin, etc. do not react with
water |
Facts and
Info about Water Properties
This article
on water properties provide facts and information about the
physical and chemical properties of water which are useful as
homework help for chemistry students. Additional facts and
information regarding the Periodic Table and the elements may be
accessed via the Periodic Table Site Map. |
