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Properties of Water

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alli teachers walking water - Properties of Water
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In this experiment, students investigate the unique properties of water through two engaging activities. The first, “Walking Water,” explores capillary action and how water can travel against gravity due to its cohesive and adhesive properties. Colored water moves across paper towels from full cups to empty ones, demonstrating water’s ability to move through narrow spaces.

The second activity, “Drops on a Penny,” compares the surface tension of water and isopropyl alcohol by counting how many drops can sit on a penny before spilling over. This highlights the electrostatic forces and cohesion of water molecules, showing that water has a much stronger surface tension than alcohol. Together, these experiments provide a hands-on understanding of how water behaves at the molecular level.

Learning Objectives

  • Standards Alignment + Connections

  • How to Run the Experiment

  • Additional Resources

    Simulations

    Properties of Water by Glencoe (requires Adobe Flash)


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