Which of the following is not a property of water?
a. Water has a high heat capacity.
b. Water doesn't take heat with it when it evaporates.
c. Water is a polar solvent in which many solutes will dissolve.
d. Water serves as a cushion and lubricant in the body.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the properties of water. Water has several key properties that make it essential for life, including high heat capacity, polarity, ability to dissolve many solutes, and its role as a cushion and lubricant in the body.
2. Step 2: Analyze each option provided in the question. For example, option (a) states that water has a high heat capacity, which is true because water can absorb and retain heat without a significant change in temperature.
3. Step 3: Evaluate option (b). This option states that water doesn't take heat with it when it evaporates. This is incorrect because water does take heat with it during evaporation, a process known as evaporative cooling.
4. Step 4: Review option (c). Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has a partial positive and negative charge, allowing it to dissolve many solutes. This is a true property of water.
5. Step 5: Examine option (d). Water serves as a cushion and lubricant in the body, such as in synovial fluid in joints. This is also a true property of water. Based on this analysis, the correct answer is the one that does not align with water's properties.

Key Concepts

Properties of Water

Water has unique properties that are essential for life, including high heat capacity, polarity, and its role as a solvent. These properties arise from the molecular structure of water, which allows it to absorb and retain heat, dissolve various substances, and provide cushioning in biological systems.

High Heat Capacity

High heat capacity refers to water's ability to absorb a significant amount of heat without a large change in temperature. This property helps regulate temperature in organisms and environments, making water crucial for maintaining stable conditions necessary for life.

Polarity of Water

Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other. This polarity allows water to interact with various solutes, making it an excellent solvent for ionic and polar substances, which is vital for biochemical reactions in living organisms.