The properties of water
Water has some unusual properties due to the hydrogen bonding between its molecules.
Properties:
- The density of ice is less than water. This is due to the water expanding as it is frozen because of the hydrogen forming an open type lattice.
- high surface tension
- relatively high viscosity
All ionic lattices and polar covalent molecules are:
- soluble in water and other polar solvents
- insoluble in non-polar solutions (eg hexane)
All non- polar covalent substances are:
- soluble in non-polar solvents
- insoluble in water and other polar solvents
As a general rule "like dissolves like" so polar molecules are soluble in polar solvents (such as water) and vice-versa.
