Question
As shown in the diagram, when environmental temperatures drop below freezing, a layer of ice typically forms on the surface of bodies of freshwater such as lakes and rivers.
Which of the following best describes how the structure of ice benefits the organisms that live in the water below?
A. The water molecules in ice are closer together than those in liquid water, so the ice prevents the passage of air to the water, maintaining a constant gas mixture in the water.
B. The water molecules in ice are closer together than those in liquid water, so the ice forms a barrier that protects the organisms in the water from the freezing air temperatures.
C. The water molecules in ice are farther apart than those in liquid water, so the ice floats, maintaining the warmer, denser water at the lake bottom.
D. The water molecules in ice are farther apart than those in liquid water, so the ice floats, preventing the escape of gases from the liquid water.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
The water molecules in ice are farther from each other than are water molecules in liquid water, so ice is less dense than liquid water and floats on its surface, while the denser water at 4 degrees Celsius sinks to the bottom, maintaining a steady temperature all winter.
Question
Water molecules are polar covalent molecules. There is a partial negative charge near the oxygen atom and partial positive charges near the hydrogen atoms due to the uneven distribution of electrons between the atoms, which results in the formation of hydrogen bonds between water molecules. The polarity of water molecules contributes to many properties of water that are important for biological processes.
Which of the following models best demonstrates the arrangement of hydrogen bonds between adjacent water molecules?
A.
B.
C.
D.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
The hydrogen bonds between these water molecules correctly show the attractive force between the hydrogen atom of one water molecule and the oxygen atom of the adjacent water molecule.
Question
In vascular plants, water flows from root to leaf via specialized cells called xylem. Xylem cells are hollow cells stacked together like a straw. A student explains that evaporation of water from the leaf pulls water up from the roots through the xylem, as shown in Figure 1.
Which statement describes how water is pulled up through the xylem to the leaves of the plant?
A. As water exits the leaf, hydrogen bonding between water molecules pulls more water up from below.
B. As water exits the leaf, signals are sent to the roots to pump more water up to the leaves through the xylem by adhesion.
C. Evaporation from the leaf decreases the hydrogen bonds that form between the water molecules in the xylem, which helps the water molecules to be pulled up the xylem.
D. Evaporation of water from the leaf increases the hydrogen bonds that form between water molecules in the air, providing the energy for transport.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
As water exits the leaf, hydrogen bonding pulls more water molecules up through the leaf and xylem by cohesion.
Question
In a water molecule, hydrogen atoms are attached to oxygen atoms
through which type of bond?
(A) hydrogen bond
(B) nonpolar covalent bond
(C) polar covalent bond
(D) ionic bond
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
(C) Oxygen atoms and hydrogen atoms are joined in covalent bonds
within a water molecule. Because oxygen has a higher electronegativity
than hydrogen does, the electrons in this bond are unequally shared,
and this results in a polar covalent bond. Choice (A) is incorrect
because hydrogen bonds occur between different water molecules, not
within a given water molecule. Choice (B) is incorrect because
nonpolar covalent bonds form between atoms with similar
electronegativities. Choice (D) is incorrect because the electrons in the
bonds within a water molecule are shared; they are not transferred as is
the case in an ionic bond.
Question
The attraction between the partially positive charge on a hydrogen atom
on one water molecule and the partially negative charge on an oxygen
atom on another water molecule is called a(n)
(A) hydrogen bond.
(B) nonpolar covalent bond.
(C) polar covalent bond.
(D) ionic bond.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
(A) Hydrogen bonds occur between the hydrogen atom of one water
molecule and the oxygen atom of another water molecule. Choices (B)
and (C) are incorrect because both describe intramolecular bonds, not
intermolecular bonds between different molecules. Choice (D) is
incorrect because there is no transfer of electrons between water
molecules.