Water

• Water is an essential biological molecule

  its a polar molecule

  when 2 water molecules are together, oppositely charged parts attract and a hydrogen bond forms between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms
• oxygen atoms have more protons so pull more strongly on the elections they share with hydrogen

  this makes the oxygen delta negative and the hydrogen delta positive, making it polar
• Cohesion

  allows water molecules to stick together and be pulled up narrow tubes

  When water meets air, the cohesion between molecules creates surface tension
• adhesion

  polar nature of water allows it to attract other polar substances
• high specific heat capacity

  water can lose a large amount of heat before temperature changes

  essential in aquatic environments, it prevents cells from immediately freezing or enzymes denaturing in a sudden temperature drop
• high latent heat of vaporisation

  absorbs a large amount of heat before it evaporates

  essential in aquatic environments as it keeps the temperature stable, it prevents enzymes denaturing in a sudden temperature change
• universal solvent

  as a polar molecules, water attracts polar substances

  substances that dissolve in water are hydrophilic

  substances that repel water are hydrophobic
• metabolite

  used in hydrolysis and condensation reactions