2.4 Water and its functions

• What is the role of water in cells?

  It is a major component of cells.
• Why is water considered a polar molecule?

  Due to uneven charge distribution within the molecule.
• What gives water its slight negative and positive charges?

  The unequal sharing of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen.
• What metabolic reactions involve water as a metabolite?

  Condensation and hydrolysis reactions.
• How does water function as a solvent?

  It allows gases, enzymes, and waste products to diffuse.
• What is the specific heat capacity of water?

  It has a high specific heat capacity.
• Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?

  Because hydrogen bonds require energy to break.
• How does water act as a buffer in living organisms?

  It minimizes temperature fluctuations.
• What is the latent heat of vaporisation of water?

  It requires a lot of energy to evaporate.
• How does evaporation of water provide a cooling effect?

  It allows cooling with little water loss.
• What role does cohesion play in water transport?

  It enables effective transport in xylem tubes.
• What is the effect of strong cohesion on water columns?

  It supports columns of water effectively.
• Where do inorganic ions occur in organisms?

  In solution in cytoplasm and body fluids.
• What determines the pH of substances like blood?

  The concentration of hydrogen ions.
• What is the role of iron ions in the body?

  They are a component of haemoglobin.
• How do sodium ions function in the body?

  They are involved in co-transport of glucose.
• What are phosphate ions a component of?

  DNA and ATP.
• What are the essential inorganic ions and their roles?

  • Hydrogen ions: Determine pH of substances.
  • Iron ions: Component of haemoglobin.
  • Sodium ions: Co-transport of glucose and amino acids.
  • Phosphate ions: Component of DNA and ATP.