Properties of Water

Water is very important in Biology, and there are very important properties of water essential to life.


Hydrogen Bonds:

• Hydrogen bonds are considered weak bonds that form between molecules. These kinds of bonds are formed when a positively charged hydrogen atom is attracted to a negatively charged Oxygen, Nitrogen or Fluorine atom.
• The hydrogen bonds of water molecules help contribute to very important water properties:
• Water is a very good solvent
• It is considered a universal solvent due to its ability to dissolve more substances than any other type of solvent
• Water has a strong cohesion and a high surface tension
• Cohesion is the attraction between like substances
• A strong cohesion produces a high surface tension, which provides a firm water surface that allows many insects to safely walk without sinking.
• Water can adhere to other molecules
• Adhesion is the attraction of unlike substances 
• Solid water (ice) can float, because water expands as it freezes.
• Ice is less dense than its liquid water form
• Water has a high heat capacity
• Large bodies of water are very stable, in terms of temperature changes of the air
• Water changes temperature very slowly with changes in its heat content.

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