Step 1: Concept
Bound water is water that is strongly associated with other molecules or ions and cannot move freely within a substance. It plays different roles compared to free water.
Step 2: Meaning
Bound water refers to water molecules that are tightly bound to solutes, polymers, or other materials in a material's structure, making it less accessible for certain physical properties like acting as a solvent or evaporating easily.
Step 3: Analysis
- Option A: Bound water is not free to act as a solvent for salt and sugar. This statement is correct because bound water molecules are tightly associated with solutes and cannot freely interact with other substances.
- Option B: Bound water does exhibit some vapor pressure, though it is lower than that of free water. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
- Option C: The density of bound water can be greater or less than that of free water depending on the structure and interactions within the material. However, in general, it is not necessarily always greater. This statement is partially correct but not universally true.
- Option D: Bound water cannot be extracted easily due to its strong binding with other molecules. Thus, this option is incorrect.
- Option E: Bound water can freeze at lower temperatures than free water because of the stronger interactions within the material. Therefore, this statement is correct.
Step 4: Conclusion
The characteristics that correctly describe bound water are A (not acting as a solvent for salt and sugar) and E (can be frozen only at very low temperatures).
Final Answer: (C)