why is water colourless
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A very interesting question.
It even comes to mind that if water is colorless then how does sea water appear blue?
The fact is water is not truly colorless.Water does have color. Pale blue color.
Now the question is from where does water gets this blue color?
Well the answer lies in the structure of water molecule H2O.
If you take a look at the structure of H2O , you will see that the 2 atoms of hydrogen look like legs joined by a bigger oxygen atom. This structure gives the shape of letter "V". The V shaped combination vibrates and reflects and absorbs different wavelengths of light. The H2O molecule absorbs light of longer wavelengths like red while scatters the light of shorter wavelength that is blue.
So the result is that we see faint blue color of water in the seas but in a glass of water it is not possible as it is too less in volume and also the sunlight reaching the glass in not enough.
Now we know that water is not entirely colorless as we thought!
It even comes to mind that if water is colorless then how does sea water appear blue?
The fact is water is not truly colorless.Water does have color. Pale blue color.
Now the question is from where does water gets this blue color?
Well the answer lies in the structure of water molecule H2O.
If you take a look at the structure of H2O , you will see that the 2 atoms of hydrogen look like legs joined by a bigger oxygen atom. This structure gives the shape of letter "V". The V shaped combination vibrates and reflects and absorbs different wavelengths of light. The H2O molecule absorbs light of longer wavelengths like red while scatters the light of shorter wavelength that is blue.
So the result is that we see faint blue color of water in the seas but in a glass of water it is not possible as it is too less in volume and also the sunlight reaching the glass in not enough.
Now we know that water is not entirely colorless as we thought!
MikeTomlinson:
good explanation Bella!
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