Question 1

Which property of water allows a spider to walk across the surface of a pond without sinking?

Accepted Answer

Surface tension due to hydrogen bonding

Question 2

Why does ice float on liquid water, and why is this important for aquatic life in lakes during winter?

Accepted Answer

Stable hydrogen bonds in ice keep molecules farther apart, making ice less dense than liquid water.

Question 3

Which of the following best explains why water is considered the 'universal solvent'?

Accepted Answer

Water forms hydrogen bonds with polar and ionic compounds, allowing them to dissolve.

Question 4

A solution in which water is the solvent is called a(n):

Accepted Answer

Aqueous solution

Question 5

Which of the following is a direct result of water’s high specific heat?

Accepted Answer

Lakes heat up and cool down more slowly than the surrounding environment.

Question 6

Which of the following reactions is most consistent with that of a base?

Accepted Answer

$$\mathrm{NaOH \rightarrow Na^+ + OH^-}$$

Question 7

Which of the following statements about buffers is true?

Accepted Answer

They maintain a consistent pH when acids or bases are added to them.

Question 8

What is the main reason that water can moderate temperature changes in organisms and environments?

Accepted Answer

Water has a high specific heat due to hydrogen bonding.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the role of buffers in biological systems?

Accepted Answer

Buffers can both donate and accept H+ ions to resist changes in pH.

Question 10

Which of the following effects can occur because of the high surface tension of water?

Accepted Answer

A spider can walk across the surface of a small pond.

Question 11

Which of the following defines the term evaporation?

Accepted Answer

The conversion of a liquid into a vapor.

Question 12

In a neutral solution, the concentration of:

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen ions is equal to the concentration of hydroxide ions.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes hydrophobic molecules?

Accepted Answer

Are nonpolar water 'fearing' molecules.

Question 14

Which property of water is most responsible for the fact that sweat cools the body when it evaporates?

Accepted Answer

High heat of vaporization

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an emergent property of water?

Accepted Answer

High density of ice compared to liquid water

Question 16

The addition of an acid like HCl to an aqueous solution (pure water) would result in:

Accepted Answer

Both the release of H+ and a decrease in pH.

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why salt (NaCl) dissolves in water?

Accepted Answer

Water molecules form a hydration shell around Na+ and Cl- ions, separating them.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the relationship between temperature and kinetic energy in water molecules?

Accepted Answer

As temperature increases, the average kinetic energy of water molecules increases.

Question 19

Which of the following is true about the pH scale?

Accepted Answer

A base is a chemical that accepts hydrogen ions from a solution.

Properties of Water: Structure, Behavior, and Biological Significance

Study Guide - Practice Questions