Water

• metabolite

  in condensation/hydrolysis
• Cohesion

  • between water molecules so produces surface tension supporting (small) organisms; 

  supports columns of water (in plants);
• Large latent heat of vaporisation 


  provides a cooling effect (through evaporation)
• High (specific) heat capacity


  buffers changes in temperature
• solvent 

  • metabolic reactions can occur
  • allowing transport of substances