Water (properties)
Water is really cool! It's a liquid that we use for lots of things, like drinking, playing, and cleaning. Here are some things you should know about water:
- Water is made up of tiny little things called molecules. These molecules are really good at sticking together because they have a positive side and a negative side that attract each other. This is called "polarity."
- Because water molecules stick together so well, they form something called "surface tension." This means that if you put water in a container and then put something really light on top, like a feather, the feather will float on top instead of sinking. This works because the water molecules are pulling on the feather from all sides, holding it up.
- Water can also dissolve things! Some things, like salt and sugar, dissolve really easily in water. This is because the water molecules surround the salt or sugar molecules, breaking them apart and spreading them out evenly throughout the water. Other things, like oil, don't dissolve in water because their molecules aren't polar.
- Water is really important for life! Plants use water to grow, animals need water to survive, and we humans need it for lots of things too, like keeping our bodies hydrated and washing our dishes.
- Water has a few special properties too. It freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). This means that we can use these temperatures to make ice and steam! Water also has a really high "specific heat," which means that it takes a lot of energy to heat up or cool down. This is why water can help keep things from getting too hot or too cold.
- Water is made up of tiny little things called molecules. These molecules are really good at sticking together because they have a positive side and a negative side that attract each other. This is called "polarity."
- Because water molecules stick together so well, they form something called "surface tension." This means that if you put water in a container and then put something really light on top, like a feather, the feather will float on top instead of sinking. This works because the water molecules are pulling on the feather from all sides, holding it up.
- Water can also dissolve things! Some things, like salt and sugar, dissolve really easily in water. This is because the water molecules surround the salt or sugar molecules, breaking them apart and spreading them out evenly throughout the water. Other things, like oil, don't dissolve in water because their molecules aren't polar.
- Water is really important for life! Plants use water to grow, animals need water to survive, and we humans need it for lots of things too, like keeping our bodies hydrated and washing our dishes.
- Water has a few special properties too. It freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). This means that we can use these temperatures to make ice and steam! Water also has a really high "specific heat," which means that it takes a lot of energy to heat up or cool down. This is why water can help keep things from getting too hot or too cold.
Related topics others have asked about: