Final answer:
The reason the water balloon did not pop while held over a flame is due to water's high heat capacity. Water has a high heat capacity because of its strong intermolecular forces and extensive hydrogen bonding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason the water balloon did not pop while held over a flame is due to water's high heat capacity.
Water has a high heat capacity because of its strong intermolecular forces and extensive hydrogen bonding. When the water balloon is heated over the flame, the heat is absorbed by the water molecules, causing them to move faster and increase in temperature. However, because water can absorb a large amount of heat without a significant increase in temperature, the balloon does not reach its melting point and does not pop.
For example, when you heat a pot of water on a stove, you can touch the sides of the pot without getting burned because the water is absorbing the heat and protecting the pot from reaching high temperatures. The same principle applies to the water balloon.