Water vapor from the steam room fogs up the glass entry door. Water molecules cohere to each other and adhere to other polar molecules Water has a high surface tension. Water has a reduced density as a solid versus a liquid Water is the solvent of life; polar molecules dissolve in water nonpolar molecules do not Water has a high heat capacity
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The phenomenon you’re describing, where water vapor fogs up the glass entry door of a steam room, is a result of condensation. The water vapor in the air is made up of water molecules, and when they come in contact with the cooler surface of the glass, they lose energy and transition into liquid form. This process can be explained through several properties of water:
- Cohesion and Adhesion: Water molecules are polar, meaning they have partial positive and negative charges due to their molecular structure (with the hydrogen atoms being slightly positive and the oxygen atom being slightly negative). This allows them to exhibit cohesion, where water molecules stick together, and adhesion, where water molecules adhere to other polar surfaces (like the glass door).
- Surface Tension: The high surface tension of water is another key property that results from the cohesive forces between water molecules. Surface tension allows the water molecules at the surface to stick together tightly, forming a thin film. This is why droplets of water tend to form and why they do not immediately spread out on a surface.
- Density Difference Between Solid and Liquid Water: Water is one of the few substances that has a reduced density as a solid (ice) compared to its liquid form. This is due to the unique hydrogen bonding between water molecules, which causes the molecules in ice to be more spaced out than in liquid water. This is why ice floats on water.
- Solvent Properties: Water is known as the “solvent of life” because it can dissolve a wide variety of substances, especially polar molecules. Nonpolar substances, such as oils, do not dissolve in water because they do not form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
- High Heat Capacity: Water has a high heat capacity, meaning it can absorb or release a large amount of heat with little change in temperature. This property allows water to regulate temperature and makes it an ideal substance for supporting life.
In the steam room scenario, the condensation of water vapor is a direct result of these properties, especially the high surface tension and the tendency of water molecules to adhere to polar surfaces.
