Biomolecules

• What is one property of water that makes it important for organisms?

  It acts as a metabolite in reactions
• How does water function as a solvent in metabolic reactions?

  It allows reactions to occur by dissolving substances
• Why is water's high specific heat capacity important?

  It buffers changes in temperature
• What effect does water's large latent heat of vaporization have?

  It provides a cooling effect through evaporation
• What role does cohesion between water molecules play in plants?

  It supports columns of water in the transpiration stream
• What are the five properties of water that are important for organisms?

  1. Metabolite in reactions (condensation, hydrolysis, etc.)
  2. Solvent for metabolic reactions and transport
  3. High specific heat capacity (buffers temperature changes)
  4. Large latent heat of vaporization (cooling effect)
  5. Cohesion (supports columns of water in plants)