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Water posses a unique characteristic found in few other liquids. What is it and why is it important?

2006-09-13 16:36:49 · 5 answers · asked by Erin D 2 in Science & Mathematics Biology

5 answers

The solid phase of this compound is less dense than its liquid phase.
It's important because Ice will float and thus thaw quicker in sunlight. This greatly enchanced the ancient seas' abilitity as a medium for producing the first life forms on earth, at least according to conventional theories. However, cutting edge theories propose that Life on Earth began deep under water, in the thermal vents of ancient seas.

2006-09-13 16:39:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Hydrogen bonding. In chemistry, a hydrogen bond is a type of attractive intermolecular force that exists between two partial electric charges of opposite polarity.

As the name "hydrogen bond" implies, one part of the bond involves a hydrogen atom. The hydrogen atom must be attached to one of the elements oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine, all of which are strongly electronegative heteroatoms. These bonding elements are known as the hydrogen-bond donor. This electronegative element attracts the electron cloud from around the hydrogen nucleus and, by decentralizing the cloud, leaves the atom with a positive partial charge. Because of the small size of hydrogen relative to other atoms and molecules, the resulting charge, though only partial, nevertheless represents a large charge density. A hydrogen bond results when this strong positive charge density attracts a lone pair of electrons on another heteroatom, which becomes the hydrogen-bond acceptor.

In a discrete water molecule, water has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Two molecules of water can form a hydrogen bond between them; the simplest case, when only two molecules are present, is called the water dimer and is often used as a model system. When more molecules are present, as is the case in liquid water, more bonds are possible because the oxygen of one water molecule has two lone pairs of electrons, each of which can form a hydrogen bond with hydrogens on two other water molecules. This can repeat so that every water molecule is H-bonded with up to four other molecules, as shown in the figure (two through its two lone pairs, and two through its two hydrogen atoms.)

Liquid water's high boiling point is due to the high number of hydrogen bonds each molecule can have relative to its low molecular mass. Water is unique because its oxygen atom has two lone pairs and two hydrogen atoms, meaning that the total number of bonds of a water molecule is up to four.

2006-09-13 16:47:36 · answer #2 · answered by jkhawaja 4 · 0 0

Hydrogen bonding. In chemistry, a hydrogen bond is a style of alluring intermolecular stress that exists between 2 partial electric powered costs of opposite polarity. because the call "hydrogen bond" implies, one part of the bond encompasses a hydrogen atom. The hydrogen atom might want to be connected to between the elements oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine, all of that are strongly electronegative heteroatoms. those bonding factors are effortless because the hydrogen-bond donor. This electronegative ingredient attracts the electron cloud from round the hydrogen nucleus and, by employing decentralizing the cloud, leaves the atom with a favorable partial cost. as a results of small length of hydrogen relative to different atoms and molecules, the consequent cost, regardless of the reality that in basic terms partial, regardless of the reality that represents a large cost density. A hydrogen bond outcomes even as this good valuable cost density attracts a lone pair of electrons on yet another heteroatom, which turns into the hydrogen-bond acceptor. In a discrete water molecule, water has 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. 2 molecules of water can form a hydrogen bond between them; the least confusing case, even as in basic terms 2 molecules are latest, is termed the water dimer and is oftentimes used as a style gadget. even as extra molecules are latest, as is the case in liquid water, extra bonds are achieveable because the oxygen of one water molecule has 2 lone pairs of electrons, each and every of that may form a hydrogen bond with hydrogens on 2 different water molecules. this can repeat so as that each and every water molecule is H-bonded with as a lot as 4 different molecules, as shown contained in the discern (2 by its 2 lone pairs, and a couple of by its 2 hydrogen atoms.) Liquid water's intense boiling element is as a results of the intense type of hydrogen bonds each and every molecule may have relative to its low molecular mass. Water is unique because its oxygen atom has 2 lone pairs and a couple of hydrogen atoms, that signifies that the completed type of bonds of a water molecule is as a lot as 4.

2016-11-26 22:25:44 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

As you freeze water it expands. Other liquids contract.
Also, after it is frozen, it will float. Other liquids when frozen
will sink.....

2006-09-13 16:40:30 · answer #4 · answered by jimbo_wizard 5 · 0 0

It expands when it becomes solid.

2006-09-13 16:40:28 · answer #5 · answered by catintrepid 5 · 0 0

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