Hello, young learners! Welcome back to Primary 4 Basic Science Technology. In our previous lesson, we learned about the properties of water. Today, we’re going to learn about Water As A Solvent.
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- List and understand substances that can dissolve in water.
- Appreciate the importance of water as a solvent in daily life.
- Demonstrate the process of dissolving various substances in water.
Water As A Solvent
Water is known as a “universal solvent” because it can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. This property is crucial in our daily lives, from making beverages to industrial processes.
What is a Solvent?
A solvent is a substance that dissolves another substance, called a solute, to form a solution. Water is a good solvent because it has a polar structure, meaning it has a positive and negative end. This allows it to attract and surround solute molecules, breaking them apart and dissolving them.
Substances That Can Dissolve In Water
Some of the substances that can dissolve in water include:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Coffee
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
- Vinegar
- Alcohol
- Many other substances, such as dyes, detergents, and fertilizers.
Practical Applications of Water as a Solvent
Water’s ability to dissolve substances has many practical applications in our daily lives. Some of these applications include:
- Cooking: Water is used to dissolve salt, sugar, and other ingredients in cooking.
- Cleaning: Water is used to dissolve dirt, grease, and other stains in cleaning.
- Medicine: Water is used to dissolve medications and make them easier to swallow.
- Agriculture: Water is used to dissolve fertilizers and make them available to plants.
- Industry: Water is used to dissolve various substances in industrial processes, such as manufacturing, mining, and energy production.
Evaluation Questions
Now that you’ve learned about water as a solvent, let’s see if you can answer these questions:
- Why is water called a universal solvent?
- Name five substances that can dissolve in water.
- Describe an experiment to show how sugar dissolves in water.
- How does water’s ability to dissolve substances make it important in our daily lives?
- Can you think of any other examples of how water is used as a solvent?
Conclusion
Today, we learned that water is a universal solvent, meaning it can dissolve many substances. This property is essential for many everyday activities, from cooking and cleaning to industrial processes. Remember, water is a valuable resource, and we should use it wisely.
Keep exploring the world of science and continue learning about the amazing properties of water! See you in the next lesson!
