Properties of water+ explanation
1- Metabolite - used in hydrolysis / condensation reactions
2- solvent so reactions can occur faster in solution and allow transport of substances
3- high specific heat capacity- so buffers changes in temp
4- large specific latent heat so provides a cooling effect during evaporation
5- cohesion between molecules so supports columns of water
6- cohesion between molecules so surface tension supplying habitat for small animals
7- polar so acts as a universal solvent
