Question 1

Which property of water is most directly responsible for the ability of ringed seals to use sea ice as a platform for hunting?

Accepted Answer

Expansion upon freezing

Question 2

Why does ice float on liquid water?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bonds in ice keep water molecules farther apart, making ice less dense

Question 3

Which of the following best explains why water has a high surface tension?

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen bonds at the surface create a 'film' that resists breaking

Question 4

A plant is able to transport water from its roots to its leaves against gravity. Which two properties of water are most important for this process?

Accepted Answer

Cohesion and adhesion

Question 5

Which of the following equations correctly represents the relationship between pH and hydrogen ion concentration?

Accepted Answer

$\mathrm{pH} = -\log [\mathrm{H}^+]$

Question 6

A solution has a pH of 5. How does its hydrogen ion concentration compare to a solution with a pH of 8?

Accepted Answer

It has 1,000 times more hydrogen ions

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an emergent property of water that contributes to Earth's suitability for life?

Accepted Answer

High reactivity with nonpolar molecules

Question 8

What would happen to skin cells if the hydrophobic glycolipid coating was absent?

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Question 9

Which of the following best describes a buffer?

Accepted Answer

A substance that minimizes changes in concentrations of $\mathrm{H}^+$ and $\mathrm{OH}^-$ in a solution

Question 10

Which statement about acids and bases is correct?

Accepted Answer

Acids lower the pH of a solution

Question 11

A drop in blood pH from 7.4 to 6.4 would result in:

Accepted Answer

Ten times as many $\mathrm{H}^+$ ions in the solution

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why water is a versatile solvent?

Accepted Answer

Water's polarity allows it to surround ions and polar molecules

Question 13

What is the effect of ocean acidification on marine organisms such as corals?

Accepted Answer

It decreases the availability of carbonate ions, making calcification more difficult

Question 14

Which of the following is true about the specific heat of water?

Accepted Answer

It allows water to resist temperature changes

Question 15

Which process is responsible for cooling the surface of an organism when water evaporates from it?

Accepted Answer

Evaporative cooling

Question 16

If the concentration of $\mathrm{H}^+$ in a solution is $10^{-6}$ M, what is the pH of the solution?

Accepted Answer

$6$

Question 17

Which of the following statements about hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances is correct?

Accepted Answer

Hydrophilic substances have an affinity for water

Question 18

Which of the following is a consequence of water's ability to moderate temperature?

Accepted Answer

Large bodies of water absorb and release heat with only slight changes in temperature

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the dynamic equilibrium of water molecules?

Accepted Answer

Water molecules dissociate and reform at the same rate

Question 20

Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between temperature and kinetic energy?

Accepted Answer

Temperature represents the average kinetic energy of molecules

Water and Life: Properties, Structure, and Biological Importance

Study Guide - Practice Questions