Propterties of water

The Chemical and Physical Properties of Water

Millions of years ago the first forms of life on Earth originated in the oceans. Today, although many plants and animals live on land, they are still dependent on water. Though odourless, transparent, and not very exciting to the taste buds, this life sustaining liquid is perhaps the most important liquid in the world. Covering 75% of the Earth’s surface it serves as many purposes which would not be possible if it were not for its specific physical and chemical properties, those of which I will be discussing.

Water consists of two volumes of hydrogen to one volume of oxygen. The hydrogen atoms are arranged at a bonding angle of 105 degrees. This makes the water molecule polar because the shape of the molecule is such that it has a positive end and a negative end. This polarity accounts for the strong bonding between the molecules and peculiar properties of water, e.g. Relatively high melting and boiling point, expands when freezes. ...