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The Chemistry Of Water Molecules

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When compared to other similar fluids water’s properties are very distinct. These unique characteristics are largely responsible for making plant and animal life possible. First off, water has a very important structure. Its molecules are composed of an oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, making a bent shape. On account of oxygen’s extreme electronegativity when compared to hydrogen, the electrons spend more time with the oxygen molecule, creating a negative side of the molecule. Therefore, the hydrogen side becomes positive and the water molecule is determined to be very polar. This polarity is crucial to many of water’s properties, as are its strong intermolecular forces. Water exerts hydrogen bonding on its molecules, meaning …show more content…

When one of these bonds is present in a molecular structure it results in strong attractions between the hydrogen and the other element, pulling various molecules toward one another. Cohesion is most commonly seen in the context of surface tension. When water molecules are in the middle of a body of water they can interact with molecules on all sides, however on the surface they can only interact with water on half of their sides. Having fewer molecules interacting with these molecules results in even stronger forces of cohesion, and therefore surface tension. In our experimentation we were able to displace water above the rim of a cup by filling an already full cup of water with pennies. Instead of dripping off the sides, the water formed a dome above the cup. It formed a dome because of the water’s surface tension. As we added more pennies the dome grew taller and taller. The dome was a perfect parabola, since that is the most efficient way of containing volume while minimizing surface area. Once too many pennies were added the force of gravity opposing the dome became stronger than the forces of cohesion in the water’s surface tension, so the dome collapsed and water spilled down the side of the cup. Another test we performed to verify cohesion involved floating a sewing needle on the surface of water. A needle, which is usually made of high carbon steel, has a

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