BIOCHEMISTRY
PROPERTIES OF WATER
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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The insects are light enough so they do not break the hydrogen bonds holding the water molecules together
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The insects actually use their wings to hover slightly above the water’s surface and they only skim it with their feet.
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The insect’s feet are non-polar, so they are repelled by the polar water molecules and are pushed away from the water’s surface.
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The insects are small enough to see the individual water molecules, so they are able to step carefully from one molecule to the next
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Detailed explanation-1: -Water striders can walk across the surface of calm water. Their feet push the surface of the water down slightly, but they do not break the surface. Why? The insects actually use their wings to hover slightly above the water’s surface and they only skim it with their feet.
Detailed explanation-2: -Water striders use the high surface tension of water and long, hydrophobic legs to help them stay above water. Water striders use this surface tension to their advantage through their highly adapted legs and distributed weight.
Detailed explanation-3: -That’s because water striders are covered with tiny hairs that repel water, trapping a layer of air next to the strider’s legs and body. That buoyant air keeps the legs from breaking the water’s surface and makes the striders bob back up if they get swamped by a tiny wave.
Detailed explanation-4: -Water striders are small insects that are adapted for life on top of still water, using surface tension to their advantage so they can “walk on water.” Water acts different at the surface. Water molecules are attracted to each other and like to stay together, especially on the surface where there is only air above.
Detailed explanation-5: -They take advantage of a property called surface tension to stay above the water and not sink. The force they exert downward is less than the forces exerted among the water molecules on the surface of the pond, so the insect does not penetrate beneath the surface of the water.