Water chemistry

Learning outcomes

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Identify basic units in Biology and Biochemistry procedures

Describes the properties of water chemistry
Prepare solvents with correct measurement and protocols
Calibrate pH meter correctly
Measure the acid-base reactions using the right protocol

Activities
1. Mind mapping pre class
2. Search and Pitch
3.Lab activity

Some properties of water chemistry

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Other names for water are: dihydrogen monoxide, oxidane, hydroxylic acid, and hydrogen hydroxide
molecular formula of water: H2O
molar mass of water: 18.01528(33) g/mol
density 1000 kg/m3, liquid (4 C) or 917 kg/m3, solid. This is why ice floats on water.
melting point: 0 C, 32 F (273.15 K)
boiling point: 100 C, 212 F (373.15 K)
acidity (pKa): 15.74
basicity (pKb): 15.74
refractive index: (nD) 1.3330
viscosity: 0.001 Pas at 20 C
crystal structure: hexagonal
molecular shape: bent
Pure liquid water at room temperature is odorless, tastless and nearly colorless. Water has a faint blue
color, which becomes more apparent in large volumes of water.
14. Water has the second highest specific enthalpy of fusion of all substance (after ammonia). The specific
enthalpy of fusion of water is 333.55 kJkg1 at 0 C.
15. Water has the second highest specific heat capacity of all known substances. (Ammonia has the highest
specific heat.) Water also has a high heat of vaporization (40.65 kJmol1). The high specific heat and heat
of vaporization result from the high degree of hydrogen bonding between water molecules. One
consequence of this is that water is not subject to rapid temperature fluctuations. On Earth, this helps to
prevent dramatic climate changes.

SEARCH AND PITCH

1.

What is the molecular

structure?
2. Why water is a polar
molecule?
3. Why water is the
universal solvent?
4. What is a pH?

SOLAR STILL project : how it can purify water.

Time needed 90 minutes
Materials

For building the solar still:

Large metal or plastic bowl
Small, shallow glass or cup (clean)
Measuring jug or cylinder
Cling film (wider than the bowl)
A pebble Hot water
Food dye and salt

Procedure Add a measured volume of hot water (about 1 cm) to the bowl. Add some food
coloring and about a teaspoonful of salt to the water in the bowl. Take all the equipment out
to a sunny, level place. Place the glass or cup in the middle of the bowl making sure no water
splashes into it. Cover the bowl loosely with cling film, sealing the film to the rim of the
bowl. Place the stone in the middle of the film above the cup. Leave the still for at least an
hour (the longer the better) and then check that there is some water in the cup. Take the still
back indoors, remove the cling film and take out the cup without splashing any water into or
out of the cup. Measure the amount of water in the cup. Observe the color of the water in
the cup and test it for salt. Calculate the percentage of the water that was purified:

Water makes a good solvent with

many sugar, salts and acids easily
dissolving in it. On the other hand
oils and fats dont mix well with
water.
Water expands as it cools from
4 C to 0 C (above 4 C it does
the opposite). In freezing
conditions, water has been
known to burst water pipes as
it freezes to ice
Water can move up narrow
tubes against the force of
gravity in what is known as
capillary action.
Water strider can walk on
water surface. Why cant we?

Water boils at 100 C (212 F), this is at the

normal conditions of sea level. For
example, water boils at just 68 C (154 F)
on the top of Mount Everest while water
deep in the ocean near geothermal vents
can remain in liquid form at temperatures
much higher than 100 C (212 F).
Drinking too much water too quickly can
lead to water intoxication.
Pure water (solely hydrogen and oxygen
atoms) has a neutral pH of 7, which is
neither acidic nor basic

Soft drinks, coffee, and tea, while made up

almost entirely of water, also contain caffeine.
Caffeine can act as a mild diuretic, preventing
water from traveling to necessary locations in
the body.

How to calibrate a pH meter

Acid-Base Reaction Lab

Objectives

1. to learn how to use pH meter correctly

2. to experience how to titrate acid-base
Materials
25 ml of 0.1M acetic acid
25 ml of 0.1Mphosphoric acid
0.1MNaOH
Calibrated pH meter

Caution should be used when working with

solutions of hydrochloric acid and sodium
hydroxide. Both can be irritating to the skin.
Goggles must be worn throughout the
experiment.

EXAMPLE

example

Identify basic units in Biology and Biochemistry procedures

1. Find out the definition of Le Systme international d'units

Web : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_System_of_Units
2. Identify the standard prefixes for SI units of measure
3. Quick quiz race
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