Water is the most abundant compound on Earth’s surface. In nature, water exists in the liquid, solid, and gaseous states. It is in dynamic equilibrium between the liquid and gas states at 0 degrees Celsius and 1 atm of pressure.

1. WATER: PROPERTIES,
STRUCTURE AND
BENEFITS
Prof. Liwayway Memije-Cruz

2. Properties of Water

3.  Water is the most abundant compound on Earth’s
surface.
 In nature, water exists in the liquid, solid, and
gaseous states. It is in dynamic equilibrium
between the liquid and gas states at 0 degrees
Celsius and 1 atm of pressure.
 At room temperature (approximately 25 degrees
Celsius), it is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless
liquid.
 Many substances dissolve in water, and it is
commonly referred to as the universal solvent.

4. Properties and Structure of
Water

5. Phases of Water

6. Solid Phase (Ice)
 The solid phase of
water is known as
ice and commonly
takes the structure
of hard,
amalgamated
crystals, such as ice
cubes, or of loosely
accumulated
granular crystals,

7. Hexagonal Structure of Ice
 As a naturally
occurring crystalline
inorganic solid with an
ordered structure, ice
is considered to be a
mineral.
 It possesses a regular
crystalline structure
based on the
molecular structure of
water, which consists
of a single oxygen
atom covalently
bonded to two
hydrogen atoms: H-O-

8. The fact the density of ice is less than that of liquid
water’s has the important consequence that ice
floats.
 The density of ice and
water as a function of
temperature.
 The solid form of most
substances is denser than
the liquid phase; therefore,
a block of a given solid will
generally sink in its
corresponding liquid.
However, a block of ice
floats in liquid water
because ice is less dense
than liquid water. The inset
shows the curve in more
detail in the range of 0-10
degrees Celsius. Liquid
water is most dense at 4
degrees Celsius.

9. Liquid Phase (Water)
 Water is primarily a liquid under standard conditions (25 degrees Celsius and
1 atm of pressure). This characteristic could not be predicted by its
relationship to other, gaseous hydrides of the oxygen family in the periodic
table, such as hydrogen sulfide.
 The elements surrounding oxygen in the periodic table – nitrogen, fluorine,
phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine – all combine with hydrogen to produce
gases under standard conditions.
 Water forms a liquid instead of a gas because oxygen is more electronegative
than the surrounding elements, with the exception of fluorine. Oxygen attracts
electrons much more strongly than does hydrogen, resulting in a partial
positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the
oxygen atom. The presence of such a charge on each of these atoms gives a
water molecule a net dipole moment.
 The electrical attraction between water molecules caused by this dipole pulls
individual molecules closer together, making it more difficult to separate the
molecules, and therefore raising the boiling point. This type of attraction is
known as hydrogen bonding. The molecules of water are constantly moving in
relation to each other, and the hydrogen bonds are continually breaking and

10. Arrangement of water molecules in
the liquid phase
 Water
molecules
align based
on their
polarity,
forming
hydrogen
bonds
(signified by
“1”).

11.  Many of the physical and chemical properties
of water (including its capacity as a solvent)
are partly to the acid-base reactions it can be
part of.
 Water can be described as an amphoteric
molecule, meaning that it can react as both a
Brønsted-Lowry acid or base. This can be
shown in the reaction between two water
molecules that produces the hydronium ion
(H3O+) and a hydroxide ion (OH–):

12. Gas Phase (Water Vapor)
 The gaseous phase of water
is known as water vapor (or
steam) and is characterized
by a transparent cloud.
Water also exists in a rare
fourth state called
supercritical fluid, which
occurs only in extremely
uninhabitable conditions.
When water achieves a
specific critical temperature
and a specific critical
pressure (647 K and
22.064 MPa), the liquid and
gas phases merge into one
homogeneous fluid phase
that shares properties of
both gas and liquid.

13. pH Values of Water
 pH value is a good indicator
of whether water is hard or
soft. The pH of pure water is
7. In general, water with a pH
lower than 7 is considered
acidic, and with a pH greater
than 7 is considered basic.
The normal range for pH in
surface water systems is 6.5
to 8.5, and the pH range for
groundwater systems is
between 6 to 8.5.
 Alkalinity is a measure of the
capacity of the water to resist
a change in pH that would
tend to make the water more
acidic. The measurement of
alkalinity and pH is needed to
determine the corrosiveness
of the water.

14. Acidic Water
 Acidic water (often referred to as electrolyzed
water) is water with a potential hydrogen (pH)
of less than 7.

15. Signs of acidic water include:
 Blue stains on
copper fixtures or
pipes
 Blue or green
stains in tubs or
basins
 pH test showing
less than 7 is
considered acidic
 A sharp or
chlorine smell at the
tap

16. Uses of Acidic Water
 acidic water obtained by
electrolysis of dilute salt water
solutions is an effective
treatment of dermatosis in skin
when applied or sprayed several
times at the initial stages of the
dermatosis.

17. Skin care
 Using acidic water
to wash your face
can improve the
complexion of your
skin as it works as a
natural astringent
help relieve dry and
itchy skin and
removes dirt and oil
without the use of
chemicals.

18. Remedy for skin diseases
 Acidic water made
with dilute salt
solutions can
expedite the healing
process of cuts,
scrapes, insect
bites, rashes,
athlete's foot, nail
fungus, blisters,
acne, eczema,
blisters, and poison
oak/ivy irritation.

19. Hair Care:
 Acidic water is a
miracle hair rinse, it
works better than
the popular apple
cider vinegar rinse!
Its great for your
scalp and leaves
your hair feeling soft
and looking naturally
shiny.

20. Antiseptic:
 Acidic water can
be used as an
antiseptic for
abrasions, cuts,
and a mouth
wash to assist in
removing plaque
from teeth.

21. Food:
 Wash your fruits, vegetables, and meats to
effectively kill bacteria.

22. Plant Care:
 Watering your plants
and vegetables with
acidic water will
promote growth and
reduce fungus. Cut
flowers will last
longer in acidic
water.

23. Alkaline Water

24.  Alkaline water has a higher pH level
than regular drinking water. Because of
this, some advocates of alkaline water
believe it can neutralize the acid in your
body.
 Normal drinking water generally has a
neutral pH of 7. Alkaline water typically
has a pH of 8 or 9.

25. Studies that suggest alkaline water
might be helpful for certain
conditions.
 a 2012 study found that drinking alkaline water with a pH of 8.8
may help deactivate pepsin, which is the main enzyme that
causes acid reflux.
 Another study suggested that drinking alkaline water may have
benefits for people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, and
high cholesterol.
 A more recent study that included 100 people found a significant
difference in whole blood viscosity after consuming high pH
water compared to regular water after a strenuous workout.
Viscosity is the direct measurement of how blood flows through
the vessels. Those who consumed high pH water reduced
viscosity by 6.3 percent compared to 3.36 percent with standard
purified drinking water. This means blood flowed more efficiently
with alkaline water. This can increase oxygen delivery
throughout out the body.

26. Proposed health benefits of Alkaline
water
• anti-aging properties (via liquid
antioxidants that absorb more quickly into
the human body)
• colon-cleansing properties
• immune system supporthydration, skin
health, and other detoxifying properties
• weight loss
• cancer resistance

27. Possible side effects and risks of
alkaline water
 lowering of natural stomach acidity, which
helps kill bacteria and expel other undesirable
pathogens from entering your bloodstream.
 an overall excess of alkalinity in the body may
cause gastrointestinal issues and skin
irritations. Too much alkalinity may also agitate
the body’s normal pH, leading to metabolic
alkalosis, a condition that may produce the
following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, hand
tremors. muscle twitching, tingling in the
extremities or face and confusion.

28. 7 Science-Based Health Benefits of
Drinking Enough Water

29.  Water
Helps to
Maximize
Physical
Performan
ce

30. Hydration
Has a Major
Effect on
Energy
Levels and
Brain
Function

31. Drinking
Water May
Help to
Prevent and
Treat
Headaches

32.  Drinking
More Water
May Help
Relieve
Constipatio
n

33.  Drinking
Water May
Help Treat
Kidney
Stones

34. Water
Helps
Prevent
Hangovers

35. Drinking
More Water
Can Help
With Weight
Loss

36. Buffer
 A buffer is a special solution that stops massive
changes in pH levels. Every buffer that is made
has a certain buffer capacity, and buffer range.
 The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base
that can be added before the pH begins to change
significantly.
 It can be also defined as the quantity of strong
acid or base that must be added to change the pH
of one liter of solution by one pH unit. The buffer
range is the pH range where a buffer effectively
neutralizes added acids and bases, while
maintaining a relatively constant pH.

38. Buffers in the Human Body
 Blood contains large amounts of carbonic acid, a weak
acid, and bicarbonate, a base. Together they help
maintain the bloods pH at 7.4. If blood pH falls below
6.8 or rises above 7.8, one can become sick or die.
The bicarbonate neutralizes excess acids in the blood
while the carbonic acid neutralizes excess bases.
 Another example is when we consume antacids or milk
of magnesia. After eating a meal with rich foods such
as sea food, the stomach has to produce gastric acid to
digest the food. Some of the acid can splash up the
lower end of the esophagus causing a burning
sensation. To relieve this burning, one would take an
antacid, which when dissolved the bases buffer the
excess acid by binding to them.

39. References
 https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/cha
pter/the-structure-and-properties-of-water/
 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-
benefits-of-water#section2
 https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-
get-your-kids-to-eat-clean
 https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-
education/quality-water-ph-page2.htm
 http://www.lifeionizers.com/water-facts/acidic-
water.html
 https://www.healthline.com/health/food-
nutrition/alkaline-water-benefits-risks