Question

Water is essential to life because it has many special properties. Which one of the following is a special property of water? A. It is able to covalently bond to other water molecules B. It is good at dissolving other substances C. It easily heats up. D. It easily cools. E. It has a low surface tension

Short answer

Option B – water is good at dissolving other substances.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the question

The question asks to identify which of the given options is a special property of water.

Review each option

Recall some of the special properties of water and compare them with each option.

Evaluate Option A

Option A states that water can covalently bond to other water molecules. This is incorrect because water molecules primarily bond through hydrogen bonds, not covalent bonds with each other.

Evaluate Option B

Option B states that water is good at dissolving other substances. This is a correct statement, as water is known as the 'universal solvent' due to its ability to dissolve many different substances.

Evaluate Option C

Option C states that water easily heats up. This is not a special property of water. In fact, water has a high specific heat capacity, meaning it does not easily change temperature.

Evaluate Option D

Option D states that water easily cools. Similar to option C, this is incorrect for the same reason. Water resists temperature changes.

Evaluate Option E

Option E states that water has a low surface tension. This is incorrect, as water actually has a high surface tension due to hydrogen bonding among its molecules.

Key concepts

universal solvent

Water is often called the 'universal solvent'. This means it can dissolve a wide variety of substances.
This property makes water incredibly important for life.
Many chemicals can be dissolved in water, which allows them to be transported easily in biological systems.
For example, nutrients and waste products in your blood are dissolved in water.

• Water's polar nature causes it to be an excellent solvent.
• Its molecules have a positive and negative end.
• This allows it to interact with many substances.

When water molecules surround these substances, they pull them apart, effectively dissolving them.
This provides a medium for chemical reactions and essential biological processes.

high specific heat capacity

Water has a high specific heat capacity.
This means it takes a lot of energy to change its temperature.
This property helps stabilize temperatures in the environment and in living organisms.

• Water absorbs heat from warmer air and releases it to cooler air.
• This process regulates temperature fluctuations.

For instance, the high specific heat capacity of water helps keep body temperatures stable.
It also plays a key role in climate, as large bodies of water like oceans can moderate the climate of coastal regions.

hydrogen bonding

Hydrogen bonding is a significant property of water.
Each water molecule can form hydrogen bonds with up to four other water molecules.
This happens because of the polar nature of water, where the oxygen is slightly negative and the hydrogens are slightly positive.

• These bonds are weak individually but strong collectively.
• They give water its unique characteristics.

Hydrogen bonds are responsible for water's high boiling point, its ability to form droplets, and its high cohesion.
They also make ice less dense than liquid water, causing ice to float.
This insulating layer is crucial for aquatic life in cold climates.

surface tension

Water has a high surface tension.
This is due to the hydrogen bonds between water molecules.
Surface tension allows water to form droplets and makes it possible for small insects to walk on water.

• Surface tension is the measure of how difficult it is to break the surface of a liquid.
• It creates a 'film' on the surface of the water.

This property is essential in nature.
It helps water travel through the xylem in plants and allows certain animals to glide across ponds.
The cohesion of water molecules at the surface creates a strong barrier that can support light objects.