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WATER!
Water is truly a remarkable substance. It is the only substance that is found abundantly in all
three states on the earth’s surface. Water is really amazing stuff! Many of its unusual properties
are produced by strong hydrogen bonds that cause water molecules to “stick” to each other and
to “stick” to many other compounds. What most of us consider normal behaviour for water is
most unusual for nearly all other substances.
Note: If a molecule of water were the size of a baseball; a drop of water would be the size of the
earth! WOW!
Other amazing properties:
1) Water has an unusually high freezing point and boiling point for its molecular mass.
Water is a liquid at room temperature, where similar compounds are gaseous.
2) Water has the highest heat capacity of all substances. Water can absorb tremendous
amounts of heat without raising its own temperature very much. In contrast, sand has a
very low heat capacity.
3) Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve large quantities of many
different kinds of substances.
4) Water has the highest surface tension of all liquids.
5) Pure water has its maximum density at 4oC.
6) Nearly all substances contract when they freeze; water expands 9% when it changes from
water to ice.
7) Except for ammonia, water has the highest latent heat of fusion (melting or freezing).
8) Water has the highest latent heat of evaporation.
9) Water has a low viscosity (it flows easily). In contrast, cold molasses is very viscous.
10) Water is very transparent for a liquid.
WATER!
Water is truly a remarkable substance. It is the only substance that is found abundantly in all
three states on the earth’s surface. Water is really amazing stuff! Many of its unusual properties
are produced by strong hydrogen bonds that cause water molecules to “stick” to each other and
to “stick” to many other compounds. What most of us consider normal behaviour for water is
most unusual for nearly all other substances.
Note: If a molecule of water were the size of a baseball; a drop of water would be the size of the
earth! WOW!
Other amazing properties:
1) Water has an unusually high freezing point and boiling point for its molecular mass.
Water is a liquid at room temperature, where similar compounds are gaseous.
2) Water has the highest heat capacity of all substances. Water can absorb tremendous
amounts of heat without raising its own temperature very much. In contrast, sand has a
very low heat capacity.
3) Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve large quantities of many
different kinds of substances.
4) Water has the highest surface tension of all liquids.
5) Pure water has its maximum density at 4oC.
6) Nearly all substances contract when they freeze; water expands 9% when it changes from
water to ice.
7) Except for ammonia, water has the highest latent heat of fusion (melting or freezing).
8) Water has the highest latent heat of evaporation.
9) Water has a low viscosity (it flows easily). In contrast, cold molasses is very viscous.
10) Water is very transparent for a liquid.