3.1.7 Water

• Solvent

  Allows chemical reactions to occur in cells
• Metabolite

  Takes part in condensation and hydrolysis reactions
• Has a high latent heat of vaporisation:

  • A lot of thermal energy is required to evaporate water due to its many hydrogen bonds
  • Little water is lost but a lot of heat is
  • Allows cooling without much water loss
• Has a large specific heat capacity:

  • A lot of heat energy is needed to raise the temperature
  • Cells and organisms don't change temperature much
  • Water provides a buffering effect against temperatures