water properties - facts and figures about water

Water Properties - Facts and Figures About Water


• Water is made up hydrogen and oxygen known as H2O.

• Water is unique in that it is the only natural substance that is found in all three physical states—liquid, solid, and gas.


• Water freezes at 32° Fahrenheit (F) or 0° Celsius (C) and boils at 212° Fahrenheit (F) or 100° Celsius (C)

• Water is unusual in that the solid form, ice, is less dense than the liquid form, which is why ice floats.

• Water is called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.


• The water molecule is highly cohesive—it is very sticky and clumps together into drops because of its cohesive properties.

• Cohesion: Water is attracted to waterAdhesion: Water is attracted to other substances

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/adhesion.html


• Water has a high specific heat index—it absorbs a lot of heat before it begins to get hot. The high specific heat index of water also helps regulate the rate at which air changes temperature, which is why the temperature change between seasons is gradual rather than sudden, especially near the oceans.


• Water has a very high surface tension. In other words, water is sticky and elastic, and tends to clump together in drops rather than spread out in a thin film.


• Air pressure affects the boiling point of water, which is why it takes longer to boil and egg at Denver, Colorado than at the beach. The higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure, the lower the boiling point of water, and thus, the longer time to hard-boil an egg. At sea level water boils at 212°F (100°C), while at 5,000 feet, water boils at 202.9°F (94.9 °C).

Distribution of Water

• Earth is the only planet with a large • amount of liquid water. Because of water, • Earth can support life.


• Water is the only substance on Earth that • exists in all three physical states at • normal temperatures. Water covers most of the

Earth. Earth’s oceans are all connected to form on huge ocean that covers 71% of the planet’s surface. Most rivers and lakes contain fresh water, which is not salty and has little or no taste.

• The oceans contain salt water and• many dissolved minerals.


• Most water on Earth is salt water. • 97% of earth’s water is salt water • 3% is fresh water.

water properties - facts and figures about water

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