Water Facts

Water will only conduct electricity when it has an electrolyte present, when ions are in solution which will allow for the flow of an electric current.

Tap water is not pure water, even this has a very small amount of ions present which will allow the wate to conduct to a small degree. To improve the water's conductivity, one can use one of many very common electrolytes, for example "Salt", Sodium Chloride is a strong electrolyte.

"Strong" and "weak" when talking about electrolytes refers to their ability to break up into ions in solution. "Strong" electrolytes will completely break up into ions whereas "weak" electrolytes will not break up completely (although they will break up to a degree). An example of a weak electrolyte is acetic acid (AKA "vinegar"), this weak electrolyte will also allow for the flow of an electric current through water.

There are also "non-electrolytes" such as sugar which do not break into ions at all and will not allow for the flow an an electric current.

Tags: Water, H2O, Science, Electrolyte, Electricity, Electric, Salt, Sodium Chloride

Fact Page: Pure water (H2O) does not conduct electricity on its own.
Date Added: 2012-03-02 18:29:29
Fact Category: Science Fact

Tags: Sound, Speed, Water, Air, Science, Interesting

Fact Page: Sound travels about 4 times faster in water than in air.
Date Added: 2011-10-12 11:26:41
Fact Category: Science Fact

Tags: Spain, Madrid, Water, Country, Capital, City

Fact Page: Spain's capital Madrid means "place of abundant water".
Date Added: 2011-07-28 11:49:56
Fact Category: Country Fact

Tags: Fatigue, Sleep, Tiredness, Water, Interesting, Health

Fact Page: Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Date Added: 2011-04-19 02:41:04
Fact Category: Health Fact

A waterjet is a tool used in machine shops to cut metal parts with a (very) high-pressure stream of water. As amazing as it sounds, if you get water flowing fast enough it can actually cut metal.

Think of a waterjet as something with about 30 times the pressure of the power washer wand at your local car wash. Power washing at car washes is an everyday example of a dirt film being "cut" off the body, wheels and tires of an automobile.

The key to cutting metal with water is to keep the spray coherent. Waterjets are able to cut because the spray is channeled through a very narrow jeweled nozzle at a very high pressure to keep the spray coherent. Unlike metal cutters, a waterjet never gets dull and it cannot overheat.

Tags: Metal, Steel, Water, Jet, Steam

Fact Page: If you get water flowing fast enough, it can cut metal.
Date Added: 2011-02-25 15:17:52
Fact Category: Interesting Fact

Tags: Water, Drinking Water, Drinking, Drink, Hydration

Fact Page: A portion of the water you drink has already been drunk by someone else, maybe several times over.
Date Added: 2011-01-04 11:45:02
Fact Category: Interesting Fact

Tags: Water, Household, Gardening

Fact Page: Approximately 60% of the water used by households during the summer is used for watering flowers and lawns.
Date Added: 2010-09-28 11:06:33
Fact Category: Interesting Fact