Question #26289
define chemical properties of water?
Expert's answer
Chemical properties of water
- has a polar nature
- the molecule of water is a dipole
- can form hydrogen bonds (that's why it has relatively high melting and boiling point temperatures)
- it is a good solvent due to its polarity (ionic and polar substances such as acids, alcohols, and salts are relatively soluble in water, and non-polar substances such as fats and oils are not)
- water is amphoteric: it can be an acid or a base in chemical reactions
When water reacts with an acid, it behaves like a base; when it reacts with the base, it behaves like an acid:
HCl (acid) + H2O (base) = H3O+ + Cl−
NH3 (base) + H2O (acid) = NH4+ + OH−
The oxygen atom in water has two lone pairs, that's why water can also be a Lewis base, or electron pair donor, in reactions with Lewis acids:
H+ (Lewis acid) + H2O (Lewis base) = H3O+
Fe3+ (Lewis acid) + H2O (Lewis base) = [Fe(H2O)6]3+
- When a salt of a weak acid or of a weak base is dissolved in water,
water can hydrolyze the salt:
Na2CO3 + H2O = NaOH + NaHCO3
- water can be a ligand in transition metal complexes. Typically it's a monodentate ligand, that forms only one bond with the central atom
- Water contains hydrogen in oxidation state +1 and oxygen in oxidation state −2. It can oxidize substances with reduction potential below the potential of H+/H2 (hydrides, alkali and alkaline earth metals). But such as aluminum, are oxidized by water as well, but their oxides are not soluble, and the reaction stops because of passivation.
2Na + 2H2O = 2NaOH + H2
- Water also can be oxidized, emitting oxygen gas
4AgF2 + 2H2O = 4AgF + 4HF + O2
- has a polar nature
- the molecule of water is a dipole
- can form hydrogen bonds (that's why it has relatively high melting and boiling point temperatures)
- it is a good solvent due to its polarity (ionic and polar substances such as acids, alcohols, and salts are relatively soluble in water, and non-polar substances such as fats and oils are not)
- water is amphoteric: it can be an acid or a base in chemical reactions
When water reacts with an acid, it behaves like a base; when it reacts with the base, it behaves like an acid:
HCl (acid) + H2O (base) = H3O+ + Cl−
NH3 (base) + H2O (acid) = NH4+ + OH−
The oxygen atom in water has two lone pairs, that's why water can also be a Lewis base, or electron pair donor, in reactions with Lewis acids:
H+ (Lewis acid) + H2O (Lewis base) = H3O+
Fe3+ (Lewis acid) + H2O (Lewis base) = [Fe(H2O)6]3+
- When a salt of a weak acid or of a weak base is dissolved in water,
water can hydrolyze the salt:
Na2CO3 + H2O = NaOH + NaHCO3
- water can be a ligand in transition metal complexes. Typically it's a monodentate ligand, that forms only one bond with the central atom
- Water contains hydrogen in oxidation state +1 and oxygen in oxidation state −2. It can oxidize substances with reduction potential below the potential of H+/H2 (hydrides, alkali and alkaline earth metals). But such as aluminum, are oxidized by water as well, but their oxides are not soluble, and the reaction stops because of passivation.
2Na + 2H2O = 2NaOH + H2
- Water also can be oxidized, emitting oxygen gas
4AgF2 + 2H2O = 4AgF + 4HF + O2
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#339914 on Dec 2023
#339914 on Dec 2023