Water and Inorganic Ions

• What is the specific heat capacity property?

  The amount of energy needed in order to increase the temperature.
• Water has a very high specific heat capacity, why?

  Water molecules are attracted by hydrogen bonds which restricts the movement of molecules, meaning a large amount of energy is needed to change the temp.
• Why is a high specific heat capacity a helpful property for water to have?

  Large bodies of water and organism's bodies are slow to change temp and so it is easier to maintain a stable internal environment.
• What is the latent heat of vaporisation property?

  The energy required to change the state of water from liquid into gas.
• Water has a high latent heat of vaporisation, why?

  Hydrogen bonding = lots of energy needed.
• Why is a high latent heat of vaporisation a helpful property for water to have?

  Helps organisms to cool down while retaining water via the sweating process = Thermoregulation.
• What is the cohesion and surface tension property of water?

  Due to the H bonding, water molecules 'stick together', creating a high cohesion of water. This is why surface tension happens, which can provide a habitat for super small organisms that 'walk on water'.
• What is the structure of water?

  Two hydrogens, 1 oxygen.

  Oxygen has two lone pairs and forms h bonding with other water molecules.

  There is polarity in a water molecule as the delta negative oxygen attract the electron bonding pair, making the hydrogen delta positive.
• What is the importance of water?

  Used in hydrolysis, chemical reaction in aqueous medium, photosynthesis, acts as a solvent, transport, maintains structural integrity and thermoregulation.
• what are the 4 main inorganic ions?

  Phosphate, Iron, Hydrogen, Sodium
• What is the importance of the inorganic ions?

  Phosphate = ATP and DNA.

  iron = Haemoglobin.

  Hydrogen = pH.

  Sodium = Co-trasnport.