Amazing physical and chemical properties of water
What are some interesting facts about the physical properties of water? Surprisingly, even the knowledge that water freezes at 0 °C and evaporates at 100 °C is regularly refuted by scientists. Here are some incredible discoveries related to water:
- Any school textbook says that water has three states - solid, liquid and gaseous. However, over the past 30 years, scientists have begun to think that there may be more of these conditions. Some of them may have several completely different forms. Thus, in 2022, an international team of scientists proved that water can exist in the form of two liquids of different densities. Due to this, under certain conditions they do not mix with each other. There remains a thin interface between them, like, for example, between ordinary water and oil.
- Hot water freezes faster than cold water. This phenomenon is called "Mpemba's paradox" - in honor of the ordinary schoolboy Erasto Mpemba, who first noticed this effect. Science still cannot accurately answer the question of why this happens. However, experiments and studies confirm the veracity of the paradox.
- Water can remain liquid at temperatures below 0°C. This property is endowed with ultrapure water without impurities (it is around them that crystallization forms). Even at -40 °C, it does not turn into ice and becomes super-cooled.
If crystallization is provoked, you can observe that the water will instantly turn into ice.
What are some interesting facts about the chemical properties of water? Everyone knows the formula of water - H₂O. But the fact is that water with such a composition exists only on paper. Since it is a natural solvent, it always contains many impurities. Which ones exactly depend on its origin. In total, there are more than a thousand different types of water in the world.
Let's start with the fact that there is salt and fresh water on the planet. The second makes up only 3% of the total volume. Of this, only a third is suitable for drinking, and the rest is stored in glaciers.
It is curious that when drinking one glass of water, a person absorbs about 8 septillion molecules - this is a number with 24 zeros.
What is the water cycle in nature
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The water cycle is a natural process that is a continuous exchange of moisture between the hydrosphere, atmosphere and earth's surface, consisting of the processes of evaporation, movement of water vapor in the atmosphere, its condensation in the atmosphere and precipitation.
This cycle involves a change in the state of aggregation of water: it changes its liquid or solid form to a gaseous one, and then after some time returns to its previous state. During this change, it takes up and moves a huge number of different organic and mineral compounds, which support life on Earth.
As you know, the most voluminous sources of water are the oceans. They contain about 97.5% of all the planet’s water reserves. It is for this reason that most natural liquids contain various salts. Fresh water sources account for 2.5% of the Earth's total water supply. If we take this 2.5% as 100%, then:
- glaciers and eternal snow masses make up 68.9% of them;
- underground and groundwater (this also includes soil moisture in swampy areas and permafrost zones) amounts to 30.8%;
- rivers and lakes account for only 0.3%.
The importance of the water cycle in nature
This is one of the most important cycles on Earth. It is he who connects all the shells of the planet together, allowing them to function harmoniously. Without the movement and distribution of water throughout the planet, the Earth as we know it would not exist.
This cycle is what allows life to remain on Earth for all these long millennia. And we are talking not only about people and animals, but also about plants, bacteria, protozoa, etc. Water, passing through all the indicated stages of the algorithm, also carries with it various organic and mineral compounds that serve as food for creatures, a source of nutrition and fertility for the soil, a source of salts for reservoirs, etc.
It is definitely worth saying that we also owe the climatic division that we have today to the water cycle, because this entire closed cycle allows us to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels in different areas of the planet, which, in turn, allow us to maintain diversity species.
The importance of the water cycle in nature:
- the unification of all spheres of the planet (in fact, this is the connecting link that makes the planet a planet, unified and capable of supporting life);
- division of hydrosphere objects into salty and fresh (and, accordingly, maintaining life diversity on the surface of the planet);
- transport of large volumes of substances over long distances;
- cleansing the World Ocean basin;
- stabilization and maintenance of optimal climatic conditions in different zones of the planet;
- providing life-giving moisture to all territories of the Earth;
- maintaining balance in different climatic zones (again, this correlates with the diversity of species in the corresponding regions of the Earth);
- supplying moisture, minerals and organic matter to soil masses, which allows maintaining the vital activity of plant species throughout the planet.
The Tale of Water and Droplets play for children
There are many fairy tales in the world. They are very difficult to count. But today I’m talking about Water. Especially kids for you!
Beautiful, stately and strong, Once upon a time there lived Water in the seas, in lakes, rivers, streams, both on the earth and in the clouds...
One day, on a fine day, droplets appeared to the Water, and ran to it like a stream, without seeing their mother for many days...
The water here says to the children: My soul always hurts for you! Tell me where you have been, and report to everyone in the area!
Children: 1. I'm a little drop I flew like a heron I was in a waterfall Like in a sunny outfit
A beautiful blouse on her shoulders sparkled in the sun!
2. And I lay on the flowers With dew in the field and in the mountains Butterflies loved me While there is no rain in nature
But I saw a spider and flew into the clouds
3. And I am so hard-working! A real hard worker! Produced electricity, a huge amount!
I turned the turbines, I got a little tired...
4. I was in Lake Baikal and brought a piece of Him. After all, the largest Deep is...
Both pure and good. It’s just a pity that it’s cold...
5. And I was on the edge On the sea-ocean Where there is a border between the waters It won’t let you connect
There is water of different densities. It cannot meet...
6. I am a drop-doctor for people and a mineral one. I don't have to get drunk, but it's better to get treatment!
I am from the source, pure I love places like this!
The water praised everyone. She loved the children and hugged them, everyone stood in a circle splashing around with splashes.
*** It was a fine, warm day. The sun is not too lazy to work. It warmed the kids with warmth from the sun’s rays.
And the drops turned into steam, Such was the heat from the Sun! And they simply evaporated, and appeared to the cloud.
And there their friends are already waiting for them. There are many of them, a whole family, dancing together in a round dance, not knowing the everyday worries...
The clouds gathered together, warmed their sides in the sun, and turned into a cloud. A joyless, angry one.
And the cloud drove away the drops. It was not a kind cloud. And it’s already frosty outside. It’s freezing, you know, seriously!
And from top to bottom, all together in a row... White snowflakes are flying, droplets like moths, circling gracefully and lightly
And again they hurry to their mother, to the Water...
No such luck, because the Water is enclosed in cold ice And so, having finished running on the ice, the Snowflakes turned into snow...
And again, in a friendly crowd, they conduct a conversation among themselves:
1. Oh mom, mom! Where is she? Tender water!
2. She lies there under the ice and doesn’t run to meet us!
3. Poor thing is cold! On the ice, hurry up, friends!
The water smiled sweetly and turned to its children.
Yes, I'm cold, no problem! After all, this always happens When it’s frosty, And you’re not sleeping, Look at yourself:
They changed so much, turned white, and put on new dresses...
Children: 1. What a cute snowflake I’m all delicate, I’m so beautiful, no matter where I go, And the cold doesn’t matter to the snow!
And I! And I! They suddenly said, Snowflakes stood together in a circle, their dresses sparkled in the sun, and began to spin in a round dance...
Children: 2. And look, I’m not like that! Am I perhaps a stranger to you? My uneven edges... Ah, no fun for me!
Don't be afraid, my dear, you won't always be like this! You didn’t hear kind words... You didn’t know the voices of love...
We will all quietly stand in a circle, Don’t be sad, dear friend! After all, everything is easy for us to fix, Just say kind words!
Water, you know, friends, It’s like a friendly family All the droplets live together We meet them here and there...
And the earth needs it! It is very important for life! After all, without it everything will dry out. The protective layer contains
They drink water, they pour water on her, trying to take care of her You tell her friends Only kind words
Then, no doubt about it, she will kindly help you in return!
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