Water's Special Properties
This property of water causes molecules to stick together, creating surface tension.
What is cohesion?
This element has 4 valence electrons and can form 4 covalent bonds.
What is carbon?
This subatomic particle has a positive charge and is found in the nucleus.
What is a proton?
This group makes molecules alcohols and increases solubility in water.
What is (-OH) Hydroxyl Group?
A solution with a pH of 7 is considered this.
What is neutral?
This property allows water to cling to other polar molecules, like plant cell walls.
What is adhesion?
This process converts inorganic carbon dioxide into organic molecules during photosynthesis.
What is carbon fixation?
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons are called this.
What are isotopes?
This group acts as an acid by donating H+.
What is a (-COOH)/carboxyl group?
This strong acid dissociates completely into H+ and Cl– ions.
What is hydrochloric acid?
Because of this property, water resists temperature change and acts as a “heat bank.”
What is high specific heat?
Molecules with the same formula but different structures are called this.
What are isomers?
A bond formed when two atoms share electrons unequally.
What is a polar covalent bond?
This group acts as a base by accepting H+.
What is an (-NH2) amino group?
This weak base reacts with water to form ammonium ions.
What is ammonia (NH3)?
This cooling process relies on water’s high heat of vaporization.
What is evaporative cooling?
This structural feature of organic molecules can vary in length, branching, double bond position, or the presence of rings, giving rise to molecular diversity.
What is variation in carbon skeletons?
This weak bond, represented by dashed lines, is crucial for DNA and protein structure.
What is a hydrogen bond?
This group can form disulfide bridges, stabilizing protein structure.
What is a (-SH) sulfhydryl group?
Substances that resist changes in pH by donating or accepting H+ are called this
What are buffers?
Water is most dense at this temperature, explaining why ice floats.
What is 4ºC?
This high-energy carbon compound powers cellular processes like muscle contraction.
What is ATP (adenosine triphosphate)?
These weak interactions result from temporary shifts in electron positions, creating instantaneous dipoles.
What are Van der Waals interactions?
This group is highly reactive and central to energy transfer in cells.
What is a (-PO4) phosphate group?
This weak acid-buffer system helps maintain blood pH.
What is carbonic acid/bicarbonate (H2CO3/HCO3–)?