What characteristic of water will remain the same regardless of what may be dissolved in it? a) the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen b) the...

Hello!

Let's take each of the possible choices and discuss their possibilities :)

a) The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen

There is a very specific chemical equation to represent water. At the smallest level, there needs to be two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. If the ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms changes, then it would no longer be water. For example, two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms create hydrogen peroxide.

b)...

Hello!

Let's take each of the possible choices and discuss their possibilities :)

a) The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen

There is a very specific chemical equation to represent water. At the smallest level, there needs to be two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. If the ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen atoms changes, then it would no longer be water. For example, two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms create hydrogen peroxide.

b) The hydroxide ion concentration

A hydroxide ion is one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom pair (OH-) that has not bonded with any other atoms. Notice that it has a negative charge. The charge sign should be written towards the top of the H.

Changing the amount of either positive hydrogen (H+) or negative hydroxide (OH-) floating around without a bond also changes the level of acidity of the liquid. In other words, the pH of the liquid would change.

If dissolving a substance in water changes its pH, then that characteristic of water is being changed.

c) The ability to refract light

Refraction is what happens to light as it travels through different substances that have different densities. As the light travels through these materials its speed changes. This causes the light to appear as if it is "bending."

If the type of substance being dissolved in the water changes its density then it would also change its ability to refract light.

d) The freezing temperature

Different liquids have different freezing temperatures. For example, salt water freeze at a lower temperature than fresh water does. This is why we add salt to ice cubes when making ice cream in plastic bags.

So, if the substance being dissolved in the water is salt, then it would definitely change the freezing temperature. This is only one example of that change. You may want to research if there are any more and what they may be.

Conclusion:

So if we look at the reasons why each answer is true or false, we can see that only answer a) is possible.

Have a GREAT day!