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Water (molecule) facts for kids

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Water (H2O)
The water molecule has this basic geometric structureWater molecules have this structure.
General
Systematic name Water
Other names Aqua
Hydrogen oxide
Hydrogen hydroxide
Hydrate
Oxidane
Hydric acid
Dihydrogen monoxide
Hydrohydroxic acid
μ-Oxido dihydrogen
Molecular formula HOH or H2O
Molar mass 18.01524 g·mol−1
Appearance transparent, almost
colorless liquid with
a slight hint of blue
CAS number [7732-18-5]
see also Water (data page)
Properties
Density and phase 1000 kg·m−3, liquid (4 °C)
917 kg·m−3, solid
Melting point °C, 32 °F (273.15 K)
Boiling point 100 °C, 212 °F (373.15 K)
Triple point 273.16 K, 611.73 Pa
Critical point 647 K, 22.1 MPa
Specific heat
capacity
(gas)
cp=1970 J·kg−1·K−1 @ 300 K
cv=1510 J·kg−1·K−1 @ 300 K
Specific heat
capacity
(liquid)
4186 J·kg−1·K−1
Specific heat
capacity
(solid)
2060 J·kg−1·K−1
Acidity (pKa) 15.74
Basicity (pKb) 15.74
Viscosity 0.001 Pa·s at 20 °C
Surface Tension at 20 °C 7.28 N·m−1
Structure
Molecular shape non-linear bent
Crystal structure Hexagonal
See ice
Dipole moment 1.85 D
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
Main hazards Drowning
NFPA 704

NFPA 704.svg

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RTECS number ZC0110000
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related solvents acetone
methanol
Related compounds water vapor
ice
heavy water
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Water (H2O, HOH) covers 70-75% of the Earth's surface in its liquid and solid (ice) states, and is present in the atmosphere as a vapor. It is the most abundant molecule on the Earth's surface.

At room temperature, it is a nearly colorless, flavorless, and odorless liquid. Many substances dissolve in water and it is commonly seen as the universal solvent; because of this, water in nature and in use is rarely clean, and may have some properties different than those in the laboratory. But there are many compounds that are essentially, if not completely, insoluble in water. Water is the only common, pure substance found naturally in all three states of matter—for other substances, see Chemical properties.

Pure water is tasteless. It is the other chemicals in the water which may give water a flavour.

Liquid water freezes and becomes solid ice at a temperature of 0° Celsius (32° Fahrenheit or 273 kelvin).

Anomalous properties of water

Generally, the volume of a liquid increases when heated, however the volume of water decreases when heated within the temperature range of 0°C to 4°C. Its volume increases only when heated above 4°C. Such behavior is one of a number of water's anomalous properties.

This property of volume decrease allows fish and other aquatic animals to survive in a body of water when ice has frozen on the surface. In cold climates, when the temperature of a body of water reaches at 4°C, the layers of water near the top in contact with cold air continue to lose heat energy and their temperature falls below 4°C. On cooling below 4°C, these layers rise rather than sink, as water has maximum density at 4°C. Thus the layer of water with a temperature of 4°C remains at the bottom, while layers of water 3°C, 2°C, 1°C and 0°C are formed above. Because ice is poor conductor of heat, it does not allow heat energy transfer from the liquid water beneath the layers of ice, which prevents the liquid water from freezing. Hence, aquatic creatures survive in such places.

Physical properties

Water is the chemical substance with chemical formula H2O; one molecule of water has two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to a single oxygen atom. Water is a tasteless, odorless liquid at ambient temperature and pressure. Liquid water has weak absorption bands at wavelengths of around 750 nm which cause it to appear to have a blue colour. This can easily be observed in a water-filled bath or wash-basin whose lining is white. Large ice crystals, as in glaciers, also appear blue.

Under standard conditions, water is primarily a liquid, unlike other analogous hydrides of the oxygen family, which are generally gaseous. This unique property of water is due to hydrogen bonding. The molecules of water are constantly moving in relation to each other, and the hydrogen bonds are continually breaking and reforming at timescales faster than 200 femtoseconds (2×10−13 seconds). However, these bonds are strong enough to create many of the peculiar properties of water, some of which make it integral to life.

Water, ice, and vapor

Within the Earth's atmosphere and surface, the liquid phase is the most common and is the form that is generally denoted by the word "water". The solid phase of water is known as ice and commonly takes the structure of hard, amalgamated crystals, such as ice cubes, or loosely accumulated granular crystals, like snow. Aside from common hexagonal crystalline ice, other crystalline and amorphous phases of ice are known. The gaseous phase of water is known as water vapor (or steam). Visible steam and clouds are formed from minute droplets of water suspended in the air.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Molécula de agua para niños

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