Answer to Question #83156 in General Chemistry for Larks Tacang

Question

Where are the unusual properties of water attributed to?

Answer 1

Answer:

Following are some of the unique properties of water:

In the solid state, the particles of matter are usually much closer together than they are in the liquid state. So if you put a solid into its corresponding liquid, it sinks. But this is not true of water. Its solid state is less dense than its liquid state, so it floats.

Water’s boiling point is unusually high. Other compounds similar in weight to water have a much lower boiling point.

Another unique property of water is its ability to dissolve a large variety of chemical substances. It dissolves salts and other ionic compounds, as well as polar covalent compounds such as alcohols and organic acids.

Water is sometimes called the universal solvent because it can dissolve so many things. It can also absorb a large amount of heat, which allows large bodies of water to help moderate the temperature on earth.