Different Phases Of Water

Water is vital for not only us, but for the world’s environment. Our bodies use water in all our cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain bodily functions. Commonly referred to as the universal solvent, water can be used as either a base and an acid.

Explain the structure and behaviour of water
Similar to many other substances and liquids, water takes on numerous forms. It can either be solid as ice, gas as steam, and its usual liquid phase, water. Water molecules are electrically neutral and V-shaped with molecular formula H2O.

In water, each hydrogen atom is bound to the oxygen atom by an electron pair, which is shared between them; this is known as covalent bonding. This process only uses two of the six
Why does ice float on water?
Vapour
When water is put into its gaseous state, it becomes water vapour, or steam. It is produced from the evaporation or boiling of water’s liquid state, or sublimated from water’s solid state, ice.
As water is boiled, the kinetic energy formed by the heat breaks the hydrogen bonds which is holding the water molecules together and hence allowing the molecules to escape as gas (vapour)

Liquid
Water is usually found in its liquid state. This liquid state is commonly referred to as the universal solvent, and can act as either an acid or a base.

The liquid phase has a V-shaped structure which is being held together by the hydrogen bonding formed between different water molecules.

Ice
When water is frozen, it turns into its solid state: ice. Hydrogen bonding determines the structure of solids – in this case, ice. Its structure makes it less dense than water’s liquid state, meaning that ice floats when put into a
Ice forms crystal lattice which is held together by hydrogen bonding. The bonding spreads the negatively charged oxygen atom and the positively charged hydrogen atom, leaving ice less dense then liquid.

Describe the water cycle and indicate where energy (heat) is lost or gained.

In the world, water constantly goes through a cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. This is what makes up the water cycle, and is a major factor in both weather and climate. In figure 1 is a diagram of the water cycle, showing which way the cycle travels. insert diagram here
Beginning at the collection of accumulation stage, where the water is found in lakes, beaches, etc., the water then evaporates by the heat (energy) in the environment from the sun and the warm ocean surface, condensing to become the clouds found in the sky. The action of condensation is when the water vapour in the air is transformed into liquid water. After