Unit-1: Water in Our Lives

Chapter -2 : physical & chemical properties of water

Learning Outcome (2): Demonstrate understanding that water from different natural
sources contains different varieties of dissolved substances and discuss the
environmental sources and effects of the dissolved substances.

Key Concepts:
 water in the environment
 properties and types
 measuring densities, conductivity, pH, boiling points.
 effect of solutes on physical properties
 colligative properties
 elevation in B.P.
 depression in F.P.
 Osmotic pressure.

Water (H2O) is the most abundant compound on Earth's surface, it is a transparent

liquid that covering nearly 70 % of earth, Water makes up 2/3 of the human body.

In nature, Water is a liquid at standard temperature and pressure, but it often exists
on Earth with its solid state( ice) and gaseous state, steam (water vapor).

As a chemical compound, a water molecule contains one oxygen and

two hydrogen atoms that are connected by covalent bonds "H2O"

At room temperature, it is a tasteless and odorless liquid, nearly colorless .

The boiling point of water depends on the atmospheric pressure, which changes
according to elevation.

The boiling point of water is 100°C at 1 atmosphere of pressure (sea level), but
water boils at a lower temperature (e.g., on a mountain) and boils at a higher
temperature if you increase atmospheric pressure (below sea level).
The boiling point of water also depends on the purity of the water. Water which
contains impurities (such as salted water) boils at a higher temperature than pure
water.

This phenomenon is called boiling point elevation, which is one of the colligative
properties of matter.

Types of water

1- Distilled Water This is water that has first been turned into steam so that all of
its impurities are left behind. The only water free from all contamination. Distilled
water may well be considered the only pure water on earth.

2- Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice
caps, lakes, rivers and streams, and as groundwater in aquifers.

3- Saline water is water that contains a significant concentration of dissolved salts

(mainly NaCl) and is commonly known as salt water. The salt concentration is
usually expressed in parts per thousand or parts per million (ppm).

5- Hard Water. This is saturated with calcium, magnesium, and many other
inorganic minerals.

Does not make foam with soap and cause kidney stones if it drinks.

6- Rain Water. This has been condensed from the clouds. When it falls it picks up
germs, dust, smoke, minerals may lead to acidic rain.

7- Groundwater is the water located beneath the earth's surface in soil pore spaces
and in the fractures of rock formations.
STRUCTURE OF WATER

Water consists of an oxygen atom bound to two hydrogen atoms by two single
covalent bonds.

Oxygen has unpaired & paired electrons which give it a slightly negative charge
while Hydrogen has no unpaired electrons and shares all others with Oxygen
Leaves molecule with positively and negative charged ends.

Water molecules form Hydrogen bonds:

A hydrogen bond is the electrostatic attraction between polar molecules that

occurs when a hydrogen (H) atom bound to a highly electronegative atom such
as: nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) or fluorine (F)

Intermolecular hydrogen bonding is responsible for the high boiling point

of water (100 °C)

Liquid water's high boiling point is due to the high number of hydrogen bonds
each molecule can form, relative to its low molecular mass. Owing to the difficulty
of breaking these bonds, water has a very high boiling point, melting point, and
viscosity compared to otherwise similar liquids not conjoined by hydrogen bonds.
Water Properties:

1. polarity of water:

The ability of ions and other molecules to dissolve in water is due to polarity.

Water is a polar solvent. So; it can dissolve ionic and polar substances.

the illustration below sodium chloride is shown in its crystalline form and
dissolved in water.

2. Water conductivity

Distilled water is not a good conductor of electricity.

Because distilled water is free from ions.
Note: and the electrical current is transported by the ions in solution,
the conductivity increases as the concentration of ions increases.

3. Adhesion and Cohesion of Water

Water drops on pine needles, showing the effects of cohesion and adhesion on
water.
Cohesion: Water is attracted to water

Water clings to polar molecules through hydrogen bonding.

Cohesion makes a water drop as a drop.

Adhesion: Water is attracted to other substances

Water adhesive to any substance with which it can form hydrogen bonds.

3. Surface tension

A measure of the force necessary to stretch or break the surface of a liquid.

The cohesive forces among liquid molecules are responsible for the phenomenon
of surface tension.

Effects of surface tension :

Several effects of surface tension can be seen with ordinary water:
A. Beading of rain water on a waxy surface, such as a leaf. Water adheres weakly
to wax and strongly to itself, so water clusters into drops.
B. Flotation of objects denser than water.

water striders use surface tension to walk on the surface of a pond.

The surface of the water behaves like an elastic film.

4. Capillary action:

Is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, and in
opposition to, external forces like gravity.

The capillary action is due to the effect of cohesion and adhesion which cause the
liquid to work against gravity.
Examples:
1- Plants put down roots into the soil, Water which contains dissolved nutrients,
gets inside the roots and starts climbing up the plant tissue.
2- Paper towels absorb liquid through capillary action, allowing a fluid to be
transferred from a surface to the towel.
3- The small pores of a sponge act as small capillaries, causing it to absorb a large
amount of fluid.
4- Some textile fabrics are said to use capillary action to remove sweat away from
the skin.
 5. Specific Heat Capacity of Water

Is the amount of heat needed to raise its temperature of 1g of a water 1o C.

it takes a lot of heat to make it get hot. Precisely, water has to absorb 4.184
Joules of heat for the temperature of 1g of water to increase (1°C).
Your body can absorb a large amount of heat from the sun in daytime during the
summer, while warming only a few degrees
Water is use in car's radiator as a coolant.

6. High Heat of Vaporization

- Amount of energy is required to change 1g of liquid water into a water

vapor (586 calories) , This process occurs on the surface of water.

- Water has a heat of vaporization value of 40.65 kJ/mol.

- Water has a high boiling point temperature (100°C), As a result of the

network of hydrogen bonding present between water molecules.

7. Water as a Universal Solvent

Water is an effective solvent as it can form hydrogen bonds; Water clings to polar
molecules causing them to be soluble in water.
Hydrophilic - attracted to water
Water tends to repel nonpolar molecules.
Hydrophobic - repelled by water
Water transports molecules that dissolved in it.

e.g.: Blood, a water-based solution, transports molecules of nutrients and wastes

organisms
Nutrients dissolved in water get transported through plants
Unicellular organisms that live in water absorb needed dissolved substances

8. Water Density
Ice is less dense than water: the molecules are spread out to their maximum
distance

So, the volume increases and density decreases.

Density = mass/volume

Density of water = 1 g/ml ( at 4° C )

[ Water reaches maximum density at 4° C ]

Oceans and lakes don’t freeze because water expands as it solidifies so, ice floats

Water freezes from the top to down, organisms can still live in the water
underneath the ice during winter.

9- pH of Water

pH scale expresses hydrogen ion (H+) concentration in a solution.

Water ionizes into H+ and OH-

H2O(l) H+ (aq) + OH- (aq)

This means that Pure water is considered to be neutral.

pH = -log [H+]

pH scale ranging from ( 0 – 14 )

below 7 = acidic , Neutral = 7 , Above 7 = basic

Water at 25oC contains concentration of [H+] ions = [OH-] ions = 10 -7 moles/liter

pH of Drinking Water

Although the pH of pure water is 7, drinking water and natural water exhibits a pH
range because it contains dissolved minerals and gases.

Surface waters typically range from pH 6.5 to 8.5, while groundwater ranges from
pH 6 to 8.5
 Impurities of water

Impurity Description How to remove?

Sand, silt, clay and by filters with pore
other suspended sizes of 1 to 20
Suspended Particles
particles cause water to microns
be turbid
Range in size from 0.01 Resin,
- 1.0 micron. ultrafiltration,
Colloids
Reverse osmosis, and
distillation.
Anions: (bicarbonates, Anion exchange
sulfates, phosphates, resins,
Dissolved Inorganic
nitrates). Distillation ,
Solids
Cations: ferrous 98% by reverse
compounds osmosis.
Plant and animal decay. activated carbon,
Human activity. resin,
Dissolved Organics Pesticides. Reverse osmosis,
Detergents. ultrafiltration, and
ultraviolet light.
*CO2 dissolves in water strong base,
to form weakly acidic Anion exchange
carbonic acid (H2CO3). resins.
Dissolved Gases
*Oxygen may cause
corrosion of metal
surfaces.
Bacteria, fungi and UV light
algae are found in most Distillation
Microorganisms
surface waters. reverse osmosis
chlorine