Challenge Question #3 "What are some of the physical and chemical properties of water?"

Water is more than just plain old water -- it actually has some very unusual properties. It would be boring if I just told you that water is wet and clear. So, instead, here are some "maybe true/maybe false" water properties. See if you know the real water facts.

True	False	(1) Water contracts (gets smaller) when it freezes.
True	False	(2) Water has a high surface tension.
True	False	(3) Condensation is water coming out of the air.
True	False	(4) More things can be dissolved in sulfuric acid than in water.
True	False	(5) Rainwater is the purest form of water.
True	False	(6) It takes more energy to heat water at room temperature to 212o F than it does to change 212o F water to steam.
True	False	(7) If you filled a glass full of water from the Great Salt Lake, when it evaporated there would be 1 inch of salt left.
True	False	(8) Sea water is slightly more basic (the pH value is higher) than most natural fresh water.
True	False	(9) Raindrops are tear-shaped.
True	False	(10) Water boils quicker at Denver, Co. than at the beach.

Finished? You can or

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Go to: Activity Center Water Science home page USGS home page USGS Water Resources home page The URL for this page is http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sc3.html Comments? Contact hperlman@usgs.gov Last Modified: Feb 03, 2000