Water 3.1.7

• Importance of cohesion

  -supports columns of water in the xylem-provides surface tension that supports small insects on the surface of the water
• Importance of transparency


  Allows light to penetrate so aquatic plants can photosynthesise
• Importance of ice floating on top of water (lower density as a solid)

  lakes freeze from the top down, maintaining aquatic life beneath
• Importance of a high specific heat capacity

  Buffers changes in temperature, making an aquatic environment more hospitable
• Importance of being a metabolite


  Plays a role in chemical reactions, for example hydrolysis
• Importance of being a solvent

  -metabolic reactions can occur-substances can be transported
• Importance of a high latent heat of vaporisation

  Provides a cooling effect, through evaporation, eg.sweating