Properties of water

• What is the biological importance of water?

  It is the medium for metabolic reactions
• What percentage of a cell's mass is water?

  Between 70% to 95%
• Why is water considered a major habitat for organisms?

  Because 77% of Earth's surface is covered in water
• What are the components of water?

  Atoms of hydrogen and oxygen
• How do hydrogen and oxygen atoms bond in water?

  By sharing electrons through covalent bonding
• What is the charge distribution in water molecules?

  Uneven sharing of electrons creates a dipole
• What is a dipole in the context of water?

  A molecule with a negatively and positively charged end
• What type of molecule is water?

  Polar molecule
• What causes hydrogen bonds to form between water molecules?

  The polarity of water molecules
• How do hydrogen bonds behave in water?

  They constantly break and reform
• What happens when there are many hydrogen bonds in water?

  They form a strong structure
• What are some properties of water due to hydrogen bonds?

  High specific heat capacity and excellent solvent
• Why is water considered an excellent solvent?

  Many substances can dissolve in it
• How does water's polarity affect chemical reactions in cells?

  Dissolved solutes are more chemically reactive
• What is the specific heat capacity of water?

  4200 J/kg°C
• Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?

  Due to the many hydrogen bonds present
• What advantage does high specific heat capacity provide for living organisms?

  It maintains a constant temperature
• How does water help in temperature regulation in blood plasma?

  It absorbs heat without big fluctuations
• What is latent heat of vaporisation in water?

  Energy required to change liquid to gas
• How does latent heat of vaporisation benefit living organisms?

  It provides a cooling effect when evaporating
• What are the essential roles of water in living organisms?

  • Acts as a solvent for chemical reactions
  • Maintains suitable habitats
  • Regulates temperature
  • Transports metabolites efficiently
• What are the properties of water and their roles in living organisms?

  • Solvent: Allows chemical reactions and transport
  • High specific heat capacity: Maintains constant temperature
  • High latent heat of vaporisation: Provides cooling effect
  • Cohesion and adhesion: Supports water movement in plants and animals
• What is the role of hydrogen bonds in water's cohesion and adhesion?

  They allow strong cohesion between water molecules
• How does cohesion in water affect plant biology?

  It allows columns of water to move through xylem
• What is adhesion in the context of water and other molecules?

  Water can bond to other molecules like cellulose
• Where do hydrogen bonds form in water molecules?

  Between oxygen of one and hydrogen of another
• Why is it important to mention the 'why' when discussing water's role in organisms?

  To explain its properties and their significance