Water Properties
Water molecules have unequal electron sharing between oxygen and hydrogen. What do we call this type of molecule?
Polar molecule
Ice over warm water caused droplets to form on its surface. Which water cycle step does this show?
Condensation
Acid rain slowly dissolving a limestone statue is an example of what kind of weathering?
Chemical weathering
Why was deionized (DI) water included in the water quality lab?
To serve as a control for comparison
Soapy water held fewer drops on a coin than plain water. What property of plain water is GREATER?
Surface tension
What is it called when water exits plant leaves as vapor?
Transpiration
Below what pH value is rain officially considered "acid deposition"?
5.6
High nitrate levels in a river frequently lead to what environmental problem?
Algae blooms
What term describes water's ability to cling to itself, allowing insects to walk on its surface?
Cohesion
Why does water vapor rise after evaporating?
It is less dense than the surrounding air
Which gas released by coal-burning plants reacts with water vapor to form sulfuric acid rain?
Sulfur dioxide / SO₂
A river sample shows very low dissolved oxygen. What does this most likely indicate?
The water is likely polluted
Explain what it means for water to be a "polar" molecule, and how polarity allows water to stick to glass.
Oxygen pulls electrons closer, creating partial charges; the charged ends attract other surfaces — this is adhesion
A diagram labels an arrow showing water moving from land to atmosphere without passing through a water body. What is this process?
Transpiration
In an experiment, as the pH of acid decreased, limestone lost more mass. What does this tell you?
Stronger acids cause more chemical weathering
In "How does pH affect the mass loss of limestone?", what is the independent variable?
The pH of the acid solution
Water is called the "universal solvent." Explain what this means and connect it to water's molecular structure.
Water dissolves more substances than any liquid because its polar ends attract and surround other charged particles
Explain the two steps that cause water vapor to rise and then form clouds, with a scientific reason for each.
Vapor rises because it's less dense than air; it cools at higher altitude due to cool temperatures of surrounding air, it condenses around dust particles into tiny droplets forming clouds
A factory releases SO₂ upstream. Name one consequence for a river and one solution to reduce vehicle emissions.
SO₂ forms acid rain that lowers river pH and harms fish; solution: reduce NOₓ/SO₂ with catalytic converters or cleaner fuels
You find high nitrates and low dissolved oxygen in a river. What does this suggest and what would you recommend?
Fertilizer runoff is fueling algae blooms that deplete oxygen; reduce farm fertilizer use and create vegetative buffer zones along the riverbank