Essential Idea
Water is the medium of life.
Understandings
Water molecules are polar and hydrogen bonds form between them.
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive, adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water.
Substances can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic.
Applications
Comparison of the thermal properties of water with those of methane.
Use of water as a coolant in sweat.
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats, oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in water.
Skills
None
Guidance
Students should know at least one example of a benefit to living organisms of each property of water.
Transparency of water and maximum density at 4°C do not need to be included.
Comparison of the thermal properties of water and methane assists in the understanding of the significance of hydrogen bonding in water.
Key Vocabulary
Polarity
Polar
Non-polar
H-Bonding
Water Properties
Cohesion
Adhesion
Surface Tension
Capillary Action
Density
Heat Capacity
Universal Solvent
Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
Textbook Reading and/or Activities
Click HERE for a pdf of chapter 2.
Notes
A detailed set of notes, prepared by Bob Smullen, examining all of the IB learning expectations.
A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.
A series of questions, created by Chris Paine, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.
A detailed set of notes, prepared by Jacob Cedarbaum, examining all of the IB learning expectations.
2.2 Study Questions (NEW Syllabus)
A series of questions, prepared by Jacob Cedarbaum, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice. Answers (OLD).
Learning Activities
Outlines the structure of water and the reasons why it is so important for life on Earth.
A detailed series of animations, produced by John Kyrk, illustrating the molecular structure of water and its properties.
The following is a one page read from How Stuff Works. We will see these concepts again as we continue with this Topic.
"Water, Liquid Awesome" by Crash Course (11:16)
This video outlines the structure of a water molecule and explains how and why that structure makes it such an important molecule for life. You will also hear about the properties of water and how they connect to water's structure.