The dipole nature of water

The water molecule has an uneven distribution of charge resulting in it having a dipole nature.

This property is crucial for the development of life as it enables substances to dissolve and react in water.

Equipment;

Sodium Chloride

distilled water

beaker

spatula

stirring rod

Battery

carbon electrodes

connecting wires

lightglobe

Method

1. Place some salt in a small beaker with the electrodes does the circuit work?

2. Place some distilled water beaker with the electrodes does the circuit work?

2. Make a solution of the salt by mixing a small spatula of each salt into a beaker of ionised water.

3. Place some of your solution in beaker with the electrodes does the circuit work?

Questions

1. What happens to the salt when you make a solution? Can you explain this using ions and polarisation?

2. Why does a the solution conduct electricity but the distilled water does not??

3. Why is liquid water so important for life chemistry?