what does it mean when we say that water molecules break apart?

Answer 1

Are you studying photosynthesis?

In the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, water molecules break apart into an oxygen, two H+, and two electrons. The electrons are passed to the chlorophyll in photosystem II. The H+ accumulate inside the thylakoid and rush out through the "ATP maker" protein. The oxygen joins with another oxygen from a different molecule of water and diffuses out of the cell and goes out of the plant.

So it just means that the water molecule is taken apart into its pieces, and those pieces are sent to different places to do different things.

Answer 2

A water molecule contains 2 Hydrogen and one Oxygen molecules - H2O. These molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds formed between 2 hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atom of water which makes it stable. when you apply external energy to this like heat, boiling, cooling etc., the water molecules starts rearranging their bonds. Heat cause the bonds to become weak and the molecule expands where as with cooling the distance between the H and O atoms decrease as they come closer to each other forming an ice lattice (snow flakes)

As the heat increases the bonds bread and water becomes steam and evaporates. This is when we say that water molecules break apart.

Hope that helps

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Answer 3

A water molecule contains 2 Hydrogen and one Oxygen molecules - H2O. This is one molecule of water. When water molecules, are closely bonded, it gains fluid form, what we call water. Due to external factors, like heat, boiling, cooling etc., the water molecules starts rearranging and original fluid form is changed.

Answer 4

Water which is H2O breaks into Hydrogen atoms and Oxygen molecules.
H2O--->H2 + O2