Water

• Water can act as a solvent
• Water has unequal charge distribution, so it is polarised
• Water has a high specific heat capacity so can act as a buffer against sudden changes in temperature

  • provides stable aquatic environment but also within fluids of terrestrial organisms
• Cohesion = tendency of water molecules to stick together
• Adhesion = tendency of water molecules to stick to other substances
• Surface tension = measure of force necessary to break or stretch the surface the surfaces of a liquid
• Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular forces of attraction between slightly polar molecules
• Water is important for life

  • metabolite used to break down complex reactions using hydrolysis reactions
  • chemical reactions take place in aqueous medium
  • polar water molecules attract other polar molecules so water can dissolve many ionic compounds