Water plays a significant role in our environment from supporting life to regulating earth’s temperature. Therefore, it is crucial for us to learn about different properties of water and its presence around us. In this article, we have explained all the important physical and chemical properties of water in detail along with related facts and examples.

Physical Properties of Water
Chemical Properties of Water
Interesting Facts about Properties of Water

Physical Properties of Water

Water is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, transparent liquid that covers around 70% of the total earth’s surface. It is found in nature in three different states. In solid state, water is present as glaciers and snow. In liquid form water is present in oceans, rivers, ponds and lakes. In gaseous form, water exists as vapours. Let’s understand all the physical properties of water in all three states one by one:

Colour: Pure water is colourless and clear. It appears transparent without any impurities. Water from oceans and sea appears green due to the presence of algae and salt. Water is also known as the universal solvent that can dissolve the maximum number of substances than any other liquid. Some of the common examples of solutions created with water are lemonade and tea.

Taste: Water in its purest form is tasteless. Sea water is salty due to the presence of salts and minerals. The difference in taste and smell in water indicates the presence of impurities.

Density: The water in liquid form has density of 1.000g/cm3 while in solid form it has a density of 0.9167g/cm3 which is why ice floats on water. In gaseous form it has a density of 0.000598g/cm3. Some objects that have higher density than water sink into it and others with lower density float on it. For example, wood floats on the water surface and a rock sinks into it.

Boiling point: The water boils at 100°C and freezes at 0°C. So, the water turns into vapor at 100°C which is known as the boiling point of water and it turns into ice at 0°C, which is known as the freezing point of water.

Transparency: Water is transparent and sunlight can pass through it. This property of water allows the aquatic plants to perform photosynthesis on which most of the marine life depends.

Chemical Properties of Water

The chemical properties of water describe how it reacts with other substances. Water is formed with hydrogen combined oxygen atoms that mix with each other. Two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to give hydrogen oxide or water that is represented using the chemical formula H₂O. Let’s understand some of the important chemical properties of water:

Natural pH of Water: Water in its purest form is neutral liquid with a pH value of 7. pH stands for the power of hydrogen that decides whether the water is acidic or basic. The value of pH from 0 to 6.9 indicates higher concentration of hydrogen ions means the liquid is acidic, 7 indicates neutral and 7.1 to 14 indicates basic or alkaline.

Universal Solvent: Water is known as the universal solvent as it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. For example, water can dissolve salt, sugar, minerals, gases and many different types of liquids.

Electrolysis: When the current passes through the water it breaks it into two components: hydrogen and oxygen gas. That is why water is a compound and not an element. This process that splits the water is called electrolysis of water.

Reaction with Metals: The reaction between water and metal results in alkaline solutions. Metal hydroxides and hydrogen gas are two things formed after the water reacts with metals. That’s why the metals under earth are never exposed to water.

Interesting Facts about Properties of Water

Water pipes burst in winter often burst due to water freezing inside them. This happens because water expands about 9% when it freezes to ice. Unlike other substances that contract on cooling down, water expands and that is the same reason we see ice floating on the liquids due to lower density.

Capillary action is a property of water that allows it to flow upward through narrow tubes against gravity. Due to this very property of water plants can draw water upward from the soil through their roots and stems to their leaves.

Our bodies use water to regulate temperature through sweating. When our sweat evaporates we feel cool due to the property of water that states, water needs a large amount of energy to convert from liquid to vapours. While evaporating, the sweat carries away a large amount of heat from our body.