chemistry water notes
Water
• Define the terms solute, solvent and solution
• Solute: Substances dissolved by the solvent (or the component present in a lower amount)
• Solvent: Substances in which solutes are dissolved (or the component present in a larger amount)
• Solution: A homogenous mixture of 2 or more substances
• 1.1.2. Identify the importance of water as a solvent.
• Water is distributed in the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
• On earth, it is distributed as a solid, liquid and gas. Approximately 97% of water is in the oceans and 2% is locked up as ice in glaciers and polar icecaps.
• Water is essential as a reactant and a solvent in the recycling of C, O, N, P and S in nature.
• The importance of water as a solvent is it serves as a transport system for nutrients and waste products in living things
• It also allows biological processes to occur in aqueous solutions
• 1.1.3. Compare the state, percentage and distribution of water in the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Location State Percentage (%) Distribution
Hydrosphere Liquid
Solid/liquid
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid 97.2
2.2
0.009
0.0001
0.008 Ocean
Polar ice and glaciers
Lakes (freshwater)
Rivers and streams
Salt water lakes
Atmosphere Gas/Liquid/Solid 0.001
Biosphere Gas 0-5
Lithosphere Liquid
Liquid Variable
Variable Underground aquifers
Groundwater
• 1.1.4. Outline the significance of the different states of water on Earth in terms of water as:
- A constituent of cells and its role as both a solvent and a raw material in metabolism.
- A habitat in which temperature extremes are less than nearby terrestrial habitats.
- An agent of weathering of rocks both as liquid and solid.
- A natural resource for humans and other organisms.
Living cells
• Water is the predominant constituent of cells functioning as:
- A solvent for biochemical reactions that sustain life.
- A raw material for metabolism (e.g. in plants).
- A transport medium for
• Define the terms solute, solvent and solution
• Solute: Substances dissolved by the solvent (or the component present in a lower amount)
• Solvent: Substances in which solutes are dissolved (or the component present in a larger amount)
• Solution: A homogenous mixture of 2 or more substances
• 1.1.2. Identify the importance of water as a solvent.
• Water is distributed in the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
• On earth, it is distributed as a solid, liquid and gas. Approximately 97% of water is in the oceans and 2% is locked up as ice in glaciers and polar icecaps.
• Water is essential as a reactant and a solvent in the recycling of C, O, N, P and S in nature.
• The importance of water as a solvent is it serves as a transport system for nutrients and waste products in living things
• It also allows biological processes to occur in aqueous solutions
• 1.1.3. Compare the state, percentage and distribution of water in the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Location State Percentage (%) Distribution
Hydrosphere Liquid
Solid/liquid
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid 97.2
2.2
0.009
0.0001
0.008 Ocean
Polar ice and glaciers
Lakes (freshwater)
Rivers and streams
Salt water lakes
Atmosphere Gas/Liquid/Solid 0.001
Biosphere Gas 0-5
Lithosphere Liquid
Liquid Variable
Variable Underground aquifers
Groundwater
• 1.1.4. Outline the significance of the different states of water on Earth in terms of water as:
- A constituent of cells and its role as both a solvent and a raw material in metabolism.
- A habitat in which temperature extremes are less than nearby terrestrial habitats.
- An agent of weathering of rocks both as liquid and solid.
- A natural resource for humans and other organisms.
Living cells
• Water is the predominant constituent of cells functioning as:
- A solvent for biochemical reactions that sustain life.
- A raw material for metabolism (e.g. in plants).
- A transport medium for