Thermal Properties
Understanding:
• Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive, adhesive, thermal and
solvent properties of water
Water has the capacity to absorb significant amounts of heat before changing state
This is due to the extensive hydrogen bonding between water molecules – the
H-bonds need to be broken before a change in state can occur and this
requires the absorption of energy (heat)
Consequently, water is an excellent medium for living organisms as it is relatively
slow to change temperature and thus supports the maintenance of constant
conditions (internal and external)
Understanding:
• Comparison of the thermal properties of water with those of methane
Methane (CH4) provides a good basis for comparison with water due to the many
similarities between their structures:
Comparable size and weight (H2O = 18 dalton ; CH4 = 16 dalton)
Comparable valence structures (both have tetrahedral orbital formations, but
water is bent due to unbonded electron pairs)
Differences between Water and Methane
The differences in thermal properties between water and methane arise from
differences in polarity between the molecules:
Water is polar and can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds (due to high
electronegativity of oxygen atom)
Methane is non-polar and can only form weak dispersion forces between its
molecules (carbon has a lower electronegativity)
This means water absorbs more heat before changing state (each H-bond has an
average energy of 20 kJ/mol)
Water has a significantly higher melting and boiling point
Water has a higher specific heat capacity (energy required to raise the
temperature of 1 g of substance by 1ºC)
Water has a higher heat of vaporisation (energy absorbed per gram as it
changes from a liquid to a gas / vapour)
Water as a higher heat of fusion (energy required to be lost to change 1 g of
liquid to 1 g of solid at 0ºC)
Application:
• Use of water as a coolant in sweat
The evaporation of water as sweat is a fundamental mechanism employed by
humans as a means of cooling down
The change of water from liquid to vapour (evaporation) requires an input of
energy
This energy comes from the surface of the skin when it is hot, therefore when
the sweat evaporates the skin is cooled
Because water has a high specific heat capacity, it absorbs a lot of thermal
energy before it evaporates
Thus water functions as a highly effective coolant, making it the principal
component of sweat
Solvent Properties
Understanding:
• Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive, adhesive, thermal and
solvent properties of water
Water is commonly referred to as the universal solvent due to its capacity to dissolve
a large number of substances
Water can dissolve any substance that contains charged particles (ions) or
electronegative atoms (polarity)
This occurs because the polar attraction of large quantities of water molecules can
sufficiently weaken intramolecular forces (such as ionic bonds) and result in the
dissociation of the atoms
The slightly charged regions of the water molecule surround atoms of opposing
charge, forming dispersive hydration shells
Solvent Properties of Water
Understanding:
• Substances can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic
Substances that freely associate and readily dissolve in water are characterised as
hydrophilic (‘water loving’)
Hydrophilic substances include all polar molecules and ions
Substances that do not freely associate or dissolve in water are characterised as
hydrophobic (‘water-hating’)
Hydrophobic substances include large, non-polar molecules (such as fats and
oils)
Application:
• Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats, oxygen and sodium
chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in water
The transport of essential molecules within the bloodstream will depend on their
solubility in water
Water soluble substances will usually be able to travel freely in the blood
plasma, whereas water insoluble substances cannot
Water Soluble Substances
Sodium chloride (NaCl) is an ionic compound and its components (Na+ and
Cl–) may be freely transported within the blood
Oxygen is soluble in water but in low amounts – most oxygen is transported
by haemoglobin within red blood cells
Glucose contains many hydroxyl groups (–OH) which may associate with
water and thus can freely travel within the blood
Amino acids will be transported in the blood in an ionized state (either the
amine and/or carboxyl groups may be charged)
Water Insoluble Substances
Lipids (fats and cholesterol) are non-polar and hydrophobic and hence will not
dissolve in water
They form complexes with proteins (lipoproteins) in order to move through the
bloodstream
Hydrophilic portions of proteins, cholesterol and phospholipids will face
outwards and shield internal hydrophobic components
Water possesses many unique qualities that are essential to maintaining
viable living conditions
Approximately 70% of the cell’s internal environment (i.e. cytoplasm) is water-
based
It is the only substance occurring naturally in all three states (solid, liquid, gas)
on the Earth’s surface
It is required for the anabolic construction of organic molecules (via
condensation reactions)
Water is an important medium for metabolic reactions as it is essential to acid-
base neutrality and enzyme function
Biological Significance of Water Properties
Cohesive and Adhesive Properties
Understanding:
• Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive, adhesive, thermal and
solvent properties of water
Water has the capacity to form intermolecular associations with molecules that share
common properties
Because water is polar it will be attracted to other molecules that are polar or have
an ionic charge
Cohesive Properties:
Cohesion is the ability of like molecules to stick together
Water is strongly cohesive (it will form hydrogen bonds)
Adhesive Properties:
Adhesion is the ability of dissimilar molecules to stick together
Water will form intermolecular associations with polar and charged molecules
Significance of Cohesive and Adhesive Properties:
The cohesive properties of water explain its surface tension
The hydrogen bonding between water molecules allows the liquid to resist low
levels of external force (surface tension)
The high surface tension of water makes it sufficiently dense for certain
smaller organisms to move along its surface
The adhesive properties of water explain its capillary action
Attraction to charged or polar surfaces (e.g. glass) allows water to flow in
opposition of gravitational forces (capillary action)
This capillary action is necessary to allow water to be transported up plant
stems via a transpiration stream
Cohesion and Adhesion by Water Molecules
