Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Water and Solution

1.Physical characteristics of water.
(a) Water can exist in three states of matter when receives or loses heat.
                  Ice → Water → Steam
  
(b) The density of pure water is 1g per cm3.

(c) A weak heat conductor

  
(d) The freezing point is 0°C.
 
(e) The boiling point is 100°C.
  
(f) A colorless, tasteless and odourless liquid at room temperature.

2.Composition of water:
  
(a) Ratio of hydrogen molecule to oxygen molecule; 2:1.

3.Water expand upon freezing

4. Test for presence of water

  
(a) Anhydrous copper sulphate changes color from white to blue.
  
(b) Cobalt chloride paper changes color from blue to pink.

5.Impurities will affect the boiling point and freezing point of water.
Water with impurities will
  
(a) Boil at a temperature above 100°C.
  
(b) Freeze at a temperature below 0°C.

6.Scientists represent water with the formula H2O (H stands for Hydrogen and O
stands for Oxygen)

7.The composition of water can be determined by a process called elctrolysis.

8. Electrolysis of water is the breaking down of water into its elements by passing an
electric current through it.

9.
Aim:
To study the composition of water through the process of electrolysis
   
Method:
1.A few drops of dilute sulphuric acid is added to the distilled water.

2. The circuit is switched on end the electrical current is allowed to flow for 15
minutes.

3. The volume of the gases collected in cathode measuring cylinders and anode
measuring cylinders are recorded.

4. The electrical current is allowed to flow until both measuring cylinders are filled
with gas.

5.The gases in measuring cylinders  anode and cathode are tested with a glowing
wood splint and a burning wood splint respectively.

6.Gas collected at the cathode burns with a 'pop' sound when tested with a lighted
splinter (a positive test for the presence of hydrogen). This means that hydrogen is
discharged at the cathode.

7.The ratio of volume of gases produced in anode to that of the cathode is 1:2.If the
volume of oxygen collected is 10cm³ , the volume of hydrogen collected is 20cm³. 
 
Conclusion:
 Water is a chemical compound that consists of two parts hydrogen and one
part oxygen

Notes
 The symbols for hydrogen and oxygen are H and O respectively. The symbol
for one molecule of water is H2O.
 The positive electrode is known as the anode while the negative electrode is
the cathode.
 Oxygen is collected at the positive electrode (anode) in measuring cylinder X
whereas hydrogen is collected at the negative electrode (cathode) in measuring
cylinder Y.
 The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen collected 2:1 . Therefore, the ratio of hydrogen
to oxygen in one water molecule is 2:1.
 Water is a weak conductor of electricity. Therefore, a few drops of sulphuric
acid are added to it so that it can conduct electricity better.
H20(water) ----->(electrolysis) 2 hydrogen atoms + oxygen