BIOLOGY
1
UNIT 01
WORKSHEET: THE PROPERTIES OF WATER
Complete the following table to summarise your understanding of the main properties of water.
The chemical structure of water
h2o
The chemical formula of water is: _____________
Water is a polar, inorganic molecule. Explain what
these two terms mean.
they are polar as they have
uneven spread of charges
inorganic indicates that the molecule does not
contain carbon.
Below is a diagram of a water molecule. Add the
following labels to the diagram:
 The names of the atoms involved
 The charges on each of the atoms using the
symbols δ+ and δ–
Image source: Magcom/Shutterstock
Water and hydrogen bonds
Many of the properties of water are a result of the
hydrogen bonds between water molecules. Draw
dotted lines on the diagram below, to indicate
where hydrogen bonds are likely to form.
Image source: Magcom/Shutterstock
Explain the importance of hydrogen bonds in liquid
water.
MUF 0031
Water and thermal energy
The molecules of water vapour have a higher
kinetic
____________ energy than those of liquid
water. Thermal energy is needed to change
liquid water into water vapour.
Compared to other substances, water has a high
specific
______________ heat. This means that it takes
a great amount of thermal energy to increase
the temperature of water by ____°C.
1
Explain an advantage this provides living
organisms: providing thermally stable environment.
Water has a high heat of ________________.
vaporisation
This is the energy required to change ____
1 g of
liquid into a ____________.
gas
Explain an advantage this provides living
organisms:
good cooling agent
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Water as the universal solvent Water, acids and bases Other properties of water
What property of water explains why it can dissolve h+ ions
pH is a scale that provides a measure of ______ Water is both cohesive and adhesive. Explain
so many different substance? in solution. the difference between the two terms.
the polar nature of water helps it dissolve different
substances The range of the pH scale is from ______ to
______.
14
Explain the difference between a solvent and a
Pure water has a pH of ______.
7 List at least three other properties of water and
solute.
that dissolves other substance is called give a brief description of what they are.
solvent Acids are substances than increase/decrease H+ 
0
in solution and have a pH between ______ and
6
substance that get dissolved is called solute ______.

An example of a naturally acidic substance is:

What term is used to describe a substance that will

HCl 
dissolve in water? Bases are substances than increase/decrease H+
soluble
8
in solution and have a pH between ______ and
14
______.
What term is used to describe a substance that does 
An example of a naturally basic substance is:
not dissolve in water?
insoluble NaOH

Explain the difference between hydrophobic and


hydrophilic substances.

molecules that are attracted to water are called

hydrophilic whereas, molecules that repel water
are called hydrophobic.

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