Water

• What is a major component of cells?

  Water
• What are the important properties of water in biology?

  • Metabolite in metabolic reactions
  • Important solvent for reactions
  • High heat capacity
  • Large latent heat of vaporisation
  • Strong cohesion between molecules
• What role does water play in metabolic reactions?

  It acts as a metabolite in reactions
• Why is water considered an important solvent?

  Because metabolic reactions occur in it
• What is the significance of water's high heat capacity?

  It buffers changes in temperature
• What does the large latent heat of vaporisation of water provide?

  A cooling effect with little water loss
• How does water's cohesion benefit plants?

  It supports columns of water in transport cells
• What effect does water's cohesion have at the air-water interface?

  It produces surface tension