FORM 2

5.1
Physical Characteristics
Of Water

Objectives
A student is able to:
Describe the physical characteristics
of water
Explain through example the effects
of impurities on the physical
characteristic of water

Group Activity
Discuss about the
physical characteristics
of water.

A universal
solvent

Odourless,
colourless,
tasteless liquid
at room
temperature

Exist in 3 state
of matter :
solid, liquid and
gas

Physical
characteristics
of water
Density: 1g
per cm3 at
4C

Freezing
point: 0C
Boiling point:
100C

The changes in the state of matter

Melting

Boiling
Freezing
Condensation
Sublimation
Sublimation

T emperature

( C)

W ater freezes
Li
qu

completely
id

So
lid

Freezing

Liquid
(water)

Solid
(ice)

point
of water

T ime (min)

Cooling
The lost of energy as water cools down slows the movement of
molecules, thus water becomes ice.

Temperature ( C)

Water
starts to boil
as
G

100
Boiling
point
of water

id
qu
i
L

Water
boils completely

Liquid
(water)

Gas

Time (min)

Heating
Heating energy is absorbed when water is boiling, causing the molecules
to move freely apart.

Experiment 5.1
Freezing and boiling
point of water

Aim :
a)To determine the freezing and boiling points
of water
b)To study the effects of impurities on the
freezing and boiling points of water.
Materials and apparatus :
Distilled water, ice cubes, common salt, 250ml
beaker, boiling tube, thermometer, Bunsen
burner, tripod stand, wire gauze, retort stand

Procedure :
1.Set up the apparatus as shown in diagram (a)
2.Record the freezing point of water
3.Set up the apparatus as shown in diagram (b)
4.Record the boiling point of distilled water
5.Repeat steps 1 to 4 by adding a spatula of common salt
to the distilled water in each activity.

Result :
Substance
Distilled water
Distilled water +
common salt

Freezing point (0C)

0
-1 or lower

Boiling point (0C)

100
101 or higher

Analysis :
A. freezing and boiling points of water
1.What happen to the distilled water at freezing
point?
ice
The distilled water changes into .................
2.What happen to the distilled water at boiling
point?
steam
The distilled water changes into ...

Analysis :
3. Tick (/) the heat change when water freezes
and boils
a) water freezes
Heat is released

b) water boils
Heat is absorbed

3.Define operationally the freezing and boiling

points of water.
temperatureat
a) the freezing point is the ...
freezes
which water ..
temperature
b) the boiling point is the ...
at
boils
which water ..
3.What is the melting point of ice?
00C
..

B. Effects of impurities
6.What effect does adding common salt have on the
freezing and boiling points of water?
decreases the freezing point of
Common salt .
waterincreases
but the boiling point if water.
7.Mark (/) to predict the melting point of ice if a little
common salt is added to it.
Lower than 00C

8.Based on this activity, state the operational

definition of distilled water.
boils
Distilled water is a substance that ....
at
freezes at 0(0C).
100(0C) and .

Conclusion :
0
0
1.The freezing point of water is .
C and
100 0C.
the boiling point of water is .
decreases the freezing point of
2.Impurities ..
increases the boiling point of water.
water but ..

Effect Of Impurities On The Physical

Characteristics Of Water

Freezing point decreases.

Boiling point increases.

Density increases.

Heat conductivity increases.

Taste, odour, colour change.

To lower the melting point of water

To produce steam

0 0C

100 0C

Liquid to solid
Liquid to gas

Move slowly
Move faster and further apart