How do hydrogen bonds contribute to water's unique properties?

How do hydrogen bonds contribute to water's unique properties?

• A. They increase water's density.
• B. They enable water to mix with oils.
• C. They give water a high specific heat capacity and surface tension.
• D. They decrease the boiling point of water.

Answer: (C)

Hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in determining many of water's unique physical and chemical properties, particularly its high specific heat capacity and surface tension. Water molecules are polar, meaning they have a slight positive charge on one side (the hydrogen atoms) and a slight negative charge on the other side (the oxygen atom). This polarity allows hydrogen bonds to form between the hydrogen atoms of one water molecule and the oxygen atoms of neighboring water molecules. These hydrogen bonds require significant energy to break. As a result, water can absorb a lot of heat before its temperature rises significantly, contributing to a high specific heat capacity. This property is vital for stabilizing temperatures in organisms and environments, meaning that water can act as a buffer to temperature changes. Additionally, the hydrogen bonds create a cohesive force among water molecules, resulting in high surface tension. This cohesiveness allows water to form droplets and enables various organisms, such as water striders, to walk on its surface without sinking. In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the role of hydrogen bonds in water's properties. They do not contribute to density in the way described, they do not allow water to mix with oils (as oils are nonpolar and do not form hydrogen bonds with water

Hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in determining many of water's unique physical and chemical properties, particularly its high specific heat capacity and surface tension.

Water molecules are polar, meaning they have a slight positive charge on one side (the hydrogen atoms) and a slight negative charge on the other side (the oxygen atom). This polarity allows hydrogen bonds to form between the hydrogen atoms of one water molecule and the oxygen atoms of neighboring water molecules.

These hydrogen bonds require significant energy to break. As a result, water can absorb a lot of heat before its temperature rises significantly, contributing to a high specific heat capacity. This property is vital for stabilizing temperatures in organisms and environments, meaning that water can act as a buffer to temperature changes.

Additionally, the hydrogen bonds create a cohesive force among water molecules, resulting in high surface tension. This cohesiveness allows water to form droplets and enables various organisms, such as water striders, to walk on its surface without sinking.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the role of hydrogen bonds in water's properties. They do not contribute to density in the way described, they do not allow water to mix with oils (as oils are nonpolar and do not form hydrogen bonds with water