Question

Water is a universal solvent. But alcohol also dissolves most of the substances soluble in water and also many more. Boiling point of water is 100°C and that of alcohol is 80°C. The specific heat of water is much higher than the specific heat of alcohol. 

1. List out three possible differences if instead of water as the liquid in our body we had alcohol. 

2. What value can you derive from this special property of water and its innumerable uses in sustaining life on earth?

Answer 1

1. (i) Even a small rise in temperature in the surroundings will raise the temperature of’ the body because the specific heat of alcoholis much less than the specific heat of water. So, in order to cool the body, more sweating will take place.

(ii) As there is less H bonding in alcohol, it will gel evaporated faster. The alcohol will be evaporated at such a faster rate that the liquid has to be ingested all the time.

(iii) Ice which floats on water helps aquatic life to exist even in winter as water insulates the heat from liquid below it to go back to the surroundings. Solid alcohol does not have such special properties.

2. Praise is to the almighty that has so thoughtfully given such special properties to water and made it a liquid that could sustain life on earth.