Properties Of Water
Pure
water is an odourless and tasteless liquid. It has a bluish tint,
which may be detected only in layers of considerable depth. Under
standard atmospheric pressure (760 mm of mercury, or 760 torr);
the fre ezing
point of water is 0° C (32° F) and its boiling point is 100° C
(212° F). Water attains its maximum density at a temperature of 4°
C (39° F) and expands upon freezing. Like most other liquids,
water can exist in a supercooled state; that is, it may remain a
liquid although its temperature is below its freezing point. Water
can easily be cooled to about -25° C (-13° F) without freezing,
either under laboratory conditions or in the atmosphere itself.
Supercooled water will freeze if it is disturbed, if the
temperature is lowered further, or if an ice crystal or other
particle is added to it. Its physical properties are used as
standards to define temperature scales and in the metric system
for the original definition of the unit of mass, the gram. Water
is one of the best-known ionizing agents. Because most substances
are somewhat soluble in water, it is frequently called the
universal solvent. Water combines with certain salts to form
hydrates. It reacts with metal oxides to form acids. It acts as a
catalyst in many important chemical reactions.
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