Water

• What percentage of a cell's content is water?

  80%
• Why is water considered vital to all living organisms?

  It is a reactant in many chemical reactions and acts as a solvent.
• What role does water play in chemical reactions?

  Water acts as a reactant in many chemical reactions, such as hydrolysis.
• How does water function as a solvent?

  Water dissolves many ions and polar substances, allowing biological reactions to occur.
• What is the significance of water's high specific heat capacity?

  It helps with temperature control in organisms and aquatic environments.
• What is the latent heat of evaporation in relation to water?

  It is the amount of energy required to change water from liquid to gas.
• What does it mean that water is dipolar?

  It means water has a slightly positive charge on one end and a slightly negative charge on the other end.
• What causes the polarity of water molecules?

  The uneven sharing of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen atoms creates a dipole.
• What is a dipole in the context of water?

  A dipole is a separation of charge within a molecule, resulting in one end being negatively charged and the other positively charged.
• How do hydrogen bonds affect the properties of water?

  Hydrogen bonds contribute to water's stability and many of its unique properties.
• Why can water dissolve many ions and polar substances?

  Because water is a polar molecule, it can attract and surround other polar molecules and ions.
• What does hydrophilic mean?

  Hydrophilic means attracted to water.
• What does hydrophobic mean?

  Hydrophobic means repelled by water.
• What are the key properties of water?

  • Good solvent for polar molecules and ions
  • High specific heat capacity
  • High heat of vaporization
  • Good cohesion
  • Low density solid (ice)
  • Metabolite in various biological processes
• How does water's high specific heat capacity contribute to aquatic environments?

  It creates stability in temperature, allowing organisms to thrive.
• What is the role of water in thermoregulation?

  Water's high heat of vaporization allows cooling effects through sweating and panting.
• How does cohesion in water affect plant life?

  Cohesion allows water to move up xylem vessels in plants.
• What is the significance of water being a low-density solid when it freezes?

  It provides an insulating layer for aquatic habitats in cold climates.
• What is a metabolite in the context of water?

  A metabolite is a substance involved in metabolic reactions, such as hydrolysis and photosynthesis.
• What are the biological processes in which water acts as a metabolite?

  • Condensation
  • Hydrolysis
  • Photosynthesis
  • Respiration