properties of water that support life

1. The Chemistry of Life

2. Objective
 Identify at least 3 properties of water and explain why
those properties are good for life

3. To aid in your note taking
 Vocabulary is in green
 Key concepts are underlined

4. Atoms
 Have a nucleus with protons (+) and neutrons (0)
 Have electrons (-) that rotate around the nucleus

5. Compounds
 2 or more atoms from different elements
 For example: water
What do you notice
about the electrons
in this molecule of
water?

6. Covalent Bonds
 When atoms share electrons

7. Polarity
 When the electrons in a compound are not shared
equally, you get a polar molecule

8. Water is a polar molecule
 This makes water have special properties that make life
on earth possible

9. How many drops of water can
you fit on the head of a
penny?

10. 5 properties
 1. Cohesion – water
sticks to other water
molecules
 Cohesion helps plants
absorb water

11. Can you get a paperclip to
float on the surface of water?

12. 5 properties
 Cohesion causes surface tension
 Surface tension allows leaves and even some animals
to float on water

13. Put finger over straw and
move water on wax paper

14. 5 properties
 2. Adhesion – water sticks to other polar substances
 Adhesion helps water move into and through vessels

15. 5 properties
 3. Floating ice – solid water is less dense than liquid
water
 Floating ice keeps lakes and oceans from freezing solid

16. 5 properties
4. Water does not change temperature quickly
The oceans absorb most of the heat from the sun and
keep the land areas at a good temperature for life

17. Black dot chromatography

18. 5 properties
 5. water is good at dissolving other polar substances
 Water dissolves our nutrients so they can be carried
into our cells

19. So…
 What did you learn about water today?
 Make a list of 3 properties of water
 Next to each property explain how that helps life on
Earth