Properties of Water

Water shows several distinctive properties that arise directly from its polar, hydrogen-bonded structure. Adhesion and cohesion: water molecules stick to each other (cohesion) and to other polar surfaces (adhesion), which lets water form continuous columns inside plant vascular tissue. High latent heat of vaporisation: a large amount of energy is needed to break water's hydrogen bonds and convert it to vapour, so evaporative water loss (e.g., sweating, transpiration) is an efficient way to lose excess heat. High melting and boiling points: compared with molecules of similar size, water's extensive hydrogen bonding keeps it liquid across the range of temperatures most life exists in. Universal solvent: water's polarity lets it dissolve a very wide range of ionic and polar substances, making it the medium in which most biochemical reactions occur. Specific heat capacity: water can …