Physical States and Properties of Water

Water is encountered in nature in three states (1) the vapor state [H20, (H20)2 or (H20)3] at or above 100°C, (2) the solid state (ice sheets of puckered hexagonal rings, Fig. 1.5, at or below 0°C), and (3) the liquid state (between 0° and 100°C) which is described by the flickering cluster model [monomers and up to (H2O)40 molecules] with an average life of 1CT10 to 10 11 sec (Fig. 1.6). 

The potential of water to dissolve other polar substances can be explained on the basis of its dielectric constant. A dielectric constant is a measure of the amount of 

TABLE 1.10. Surface Tension of Water Relative to Other Liquids  

TABLE 1.11. Specific Heat Capacity of Water Relative to Other Substances 

TABLE 1.12. Viscosity of Water Under Various Temperatures 

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