Worksheet

Lesson: Water

1. a) Is water a polar or non-polar molecule? Why?

b) Water is an excellent solvent for molecules that have electrical charges. Name two examples of
hydrophilic (water loving) molecules.

c) The diagram below shows a water molecule. Draw several more water molecules to show how
hydrogen bonds form between the molecules. Label the covalent and hydrogen bonds.



H

O


H

d) Explain how a hydrogen bond forms between two molecules of water.

2. a) Cohesion, high surface tension, high specific heat and lower density as a solid than as a liquid,
are emergent properties of water resulting from hydrogen bonding. Give examples of the
biological importance of each of the properties mentioned above.

i) Cohesion
ii) High surface tension
iii) High specific heat
iv) Less dense as a solid than as a liquid

b) Explain why ice is less dense than liquid water.

© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. 1

 3. a) A solution having more H+ than OH− is known as an ______(i)______ solution, while that having

more OH− than H+ is known as ____(ii)_______ solution. A solution in which the H+ and OH−

concentration are equal is said to be ______(iii)_______.

b) What is the pH range of most biological fluids?

c) Why is it important to maintain the pH within this narrow range?

© 2003 Ministry Of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. 2