3. Physical properties of Water-I

The physical properties of water are listed below:

Pure water is a clear, transparent, odourless and tasteless liquid.

At one atmosphere pressure (\(1\) atm), water has a boiling point of \(100\)°C. Water boils and turns into steam at this temperature. With increasing pressure, the boiling point of water increases. For example, when a pressure cooker is heated, high pressure is created inside it; thus, the boiling point of water rises. Therefore, water in the cooker remains a liquid at a higher temperature (>\(100\)°C). This speeds up the cooking process.

 

Water freezes at \(0\)°C and forms ice; hence, the freezing point of water is \(0\)°C. With increasing pressure, the freezing point of water decreases.

When you put ice cubes in water at room temperature, they will float on top. This is because ice is lighter than water.

 

 

It is stated that ice has a lesser density than water: the water in the lake freezes when the temperature drops below \(0\)°C in the winter. The ice will float to the top of the lake by cover it. Ice does not allow heat to pass through it because it is a poor conductor of heat. As a result, the water beneath the ice remains liquid, containing the majority of aquatic life. This allows aquatic animals and plants to live even in the coldest climates.