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Electrical Conductivity of Water

Water's electrical conductivity is influenced by its self-ionization into hydroxide and hydronium ions, with pure water exhibiting high resistivity, ideal for sensitive applications. Its polarity and hydrogen bonding contribute to its high melting and boiling points, solvent capabilities, and thermal capacity. Water's cohesive and adhesive properties enable capillary action, vital in biological systems. As a universal solvent, water dissolves polar and ionic substances, playing a key role in various natural processes.

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1

Pure water's conductivity is comparable to ______ semiconductors, but far less than ______.

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intrinsic metals

2

The presence of ______ in water greatly enhances its ______.

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impurities conductivity

3

Water molecules can split into ______ and ______ ions, though in minimal amounts.

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hydroxide (OH−) hydronium (H3O+)

4

Max resistivity of ultra-pure water temperature

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18.2 MΩ·cm at 25 °C

5

Conductivity of pure water at 25 °C

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Approximately 0.05501 μS/cm

6

Primary charge carriers in ice

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Protons

7

The ______ of water molecules leads to a strong dipole moment due to their bent shape and charge distribution.

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polarity

8

Water's ______ and ______ points are unusually high because of the hydrogen bonds between molecules.

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melting boiling

9

Unlike water, ______ sulfide is a gas at room temperature even though it has a higher molecular mass.

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hydrogen

10

The ______ atom in water molecules has a partial negative charge, while the ______ atoms have partial positive charges.

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oxygen hydrogen

11

Water's ability to dissolve substances and its high ______ capacity are due to the ______ bonds between its molecules.

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thermal hydrogen

12

Hydrogen bonding in water

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Primary force behind water's cohesive properties, allowing molecules to stick together.

13

Water's high surface tension

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Result of cohesive forces, enabling phenomena like insects walking on water's surface.

14

Capillary action in plants

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Movement of water against gravity, driven by water's cohesion and adhesion properties.

15

Substances that mix well with water are termed ______, whereas those that do not are called ______.

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hydrophilic hydrophobic

16

The ______ of a substance in water depends on its ability to form favorable interactions with water molecules.

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solubility

17

In water, ______ substances like sodium chloride break into ions, while ______ substances such as sucrose form hydrogen bonds.

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ionic polar

18

Water hexamer structure significance

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Quantum tunneling crucial for bond dynamics in water hexamer, influencing its structure.

19

Water absorption spectrum characteristics

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Transparent to visible, near UV, far-red light; strong absorption in UV, infrared, microwave regions.

20

Water's slight blue color explanation

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Minor absorption in red part of visible spectrum gives water its blue tint.

21

In its liquid state, water molecules can establish up to ______ hydrogen bonds, creating a dynamic network.

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four

22

The unique network of water leads to a decrease in its density when the temperature drops below ______.

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4 °C

23

Research into water's molecular structure has been advanced by techniques such as ______.

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X-ray absorption spectroscopy

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Electrical Conductivity of Water

Water is often perceived as an electrical insulator, yet it inherently possesses a degree of conductivity. This is due to the self-ionization process where water molecules dissociate into hydroxide ions (OH−) and hydronium ions (H3O+), albeit in very low concentrations. Pure water has a conductivity similar to that of intrinsic semiconductors like germanium, but much lower than that of metals. The conductivity of water is significantly increased by the presence of impurities, which provide additional ions that facilitate the movement of electrical charge.
Transparent glass beaker with colorless liquid and immersed metal electrodes producing bubbles, on a white surface with a gray background.

Resistivity and Purity of Water

The maximum theoretical resistivity of water is about 18.2 MΩ·cm at 25 °C, which is observed in ultra-pure water. This high resistivity makes it an excellent insulator for sensitive applications, such as in the semiconductor industry. However, even trace amounts of impurities can drastically reduce this resistivity. The conductivity of pure water is very low, with a measured value of approximately 0.05501 μS/cm at 25 °C. Electrolysis of water into oxygen and hydrogen gases is inefficient without dissolved ions due to water's low ionic conductivity. In its solid state, ice exhibits negligible conductivity, with protons serving as the primary charge carriers.

Polarity and Hydrogen Bonding in Water

Water molecules are polar, with a bent shape that results in a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms. This polarity, coupled with the oxygen atom's lone pairs of electrons, creates a strong dipole moment. Hydrogen bonds form between the positive and negative regions of adjacent water molecules, giving rise to water's unique properties such as high melting and boiling points, solvent capabilities, and thermal capacity. In contrast, molecules like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have weaker hydrogen bonds and are gases at room temperature, despite having greater molecular mass.

Cohesion, Adhesion, and Surface Tension of Water

Water's cohesive forces, primarily due to hydrogen bonding, enable water molecules to stick together. These forces are complemented by adhesion, which allows water to cling to other substances, such as glass. These properties are vital in biological systems, where water's interaction with hydrophilic surfaces is strong. Water's high surface tension, a consequence of cohesive forces, permits phenomena like insects walking on water. Capillary action, a result of both cohesion and adhesion, facilitates the movement of water in plants and other natural systems.

Solvent Properties of Water

Water is a universal solvent, largely because of its high dielectric constant and its ability to form hydrogen bonds with polar and ionic substances. Hydrophilic substances dissolve readily in water, while hydrophobic substances do not. The solubility of a substance in water is determined by its capacity to form energetically favorable interactions with water molecules, which can overcome the strong hydrogen bonds within the water itself. Ionic substances, such as sodium chloride, dissociate into ions in water, and polar substances, like sucrose, interact with water molecules through hydrogen bonding.

Quantum Effects and Absorption Spectrum of Water

Quantum tunneling affects the behavior of water, allowing hydrogen bonds to break and reform, which is particularly evident in water clusters. This effect is significant in the structure of the water hexamer. Water's absorption spectrum is also noteworthy; it is transparent to visible light, near ultraviolet, and far-red light, but absorbs strongly in the ultraviolet, infrared, and microwave regions. This absorption is crucial for biological processes such as photosynthesis and is utilized in microwave ovens to heat food. Water's slight blue color is due to a minor absorption in the red part of the visible spectrum.

Structural Dynamics of Water Molecules

Water molecules can form up to four hydrogen bonds, leading to a dynamic and fluctuating network in liquid water. This network is responsible for the anomalous decrease in water's density below 4 °C. While the traditional view is that water molecules form a continuous three-dimensional network, recent studies suggest the possibility of more transient structures, such as chains and rings, where water molecules may bond with fewer partners. These findings, derived from techniques like X-ray absorption spectroscopy, contribute to the ongoing research and debate about water's molecular structure.