NIOS Class 10 Science Activity 26.3 Air and Water Solution

This activity explains the polar nature of water through a simple experiment.

Air and Water Activity 26.3 Solution

This activity is based on the NIOS Class 10 science and technology (212) Chapter 26- Air and Water Module 6- Natural Resources.

Aim

To study the polar nature of water molecules

Materials Required

   1. Burette or a bottle with a fine opening

   2. Burette stand

   3. Water

   4. Ebonite rod (negatively charged)

   5. Glass rod (positively charged)

   6. Clip or stopcock

Procedure

We take a burette or a bottle with a fine opening and fill it with water, and fix it vertically in a burette stand.

Now we place a clip or stopcock a little above the fine opening to regulate the flow of water.

Then we open the stopcock and allow water to flow out, and bring a negatively charged ebonite rod (rubbed with fur) near the stream of water, and observe the movement of water.

 Now we bring a positively charged glass rod (rubbed with silk) near the stream of water and again observe what happens.

Observation

We observe that the stream of water bends toward both the negatively charged ebonite rod and the positively charged glass rod.

Explanation

Water molecules have two ends – one end carries a partial positive charge (hydrogen side) and the other carries a partial negative charge (oxygen side). So water molecules are polar.

 When a charged rod is brought near the stream of water, the opposite charge of water molecules is attracted toward the rod.

Conclusion

Through this activity, we can conclude that water is a polar molecule that has both positive and negative poles.

Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Why does the water stream bend toward a charged rod?

Answer – Because the opposite charge within the water molecule is attracted to the charge on the rod.

   2. What does the term’ polar nature’ of water mean?

Answer – The Polar nature of water means each water molecule has two opposite charges.

   3. What does the activity 26.3 NIOS Class 10 prove?

Answer – This activity proves that water molecules are polar in nature, having both positive and negative charges.