Explain the compound water, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain the compound water?

Water :  Water is the most important compound in living cells, making up most of the bulk of living organisms. Our own bodies contain 40% - 60% water. We can survive without food longer than we can without water. Water has several unique properties that make it important to living organisms:

(1) Water is a good solvent. More substances dissolve in water than in any other liquid. Because of its polar nature, water is able to break up ionic compounds into their component ions, freeing them to react with other substances.

(2) Because it is a polar molecule, water is both cohesive and adhesive, which results in capillarity, the ability to move through small orifices or fine pores against the force of gravity and other forces.

(3) The heat of vaporization of water is high; that is, water takes up large quantities of heat when it evaporates, making it a good evaporative coolant. Both plants and animals use water evaporation from surface cells for cooling.

(4) Water has a high specific heat, meaning that it requires a large amount of heat to change its temperature. Since living organisms are made up mostly of water, they gain and lose heat slowly. Water is able to absorb heat from chemical reactions in the organisms.

(5) Water has a high thermal conductivity, or heat conduction, which helps to keep parts of the organism from overheating.

(6) Because of its cohesion, water has a high boiling point. The significance of this is that water does not readily change from a liquid to a gas. In fact, a relatively large quantity of heat is required to change water from a liquid state into gaseous steam.

 


Related Discussions:- Explain the compound water

Phytoplankton stage - hydrarch, Phytoplankton Stage - Hydrarch In this...

Phytoplankton Stage - Hydrarch In this initial stage, the pond water is poor in nutrients and is devoid of much life. At this stage, the water is incapable of supporting large

Determine the treatment modalities of cis therapy, The protocol includes fo...

The protocol includes four treatment modalities: A = Mechanical Debridement In this the patients are re-instructed in oral hygiene and motivated to initiate and continue m

Define fermented dairy products-butter, Normal 0 false false ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Modification of mitosis, MODIFICATION OF MITOSIS 1 .      CRYPTOMITOS...

MODIFICATION OF MITOSIS 1 .      CRYPTOMITOSIS OR PROMITOSIS : Primitive type of mitosis. In this mitosis nuclear membrane not disappear (remain intact throughout the div

How are nematodes characterized, Q. Nematode identity card. How are nematod...

Q. Nematode identity card. How are nematodes characterized according to examples of representing beings, type of symmetry basic morphology, , germ layers and coelom, digestive syst

Genetic, Ask quesIn Cross 1, pure-breeding colored, starchy kernel plants (...

Ask quesIn Cross 1, pure-breeding colored, starchy kernel plants (C1Wx/C1Wx) were crossed to plants pure-breeding for colorless, waxy kernels (c1 wx/c1 wx). The F1 of this cross we

Explain chilling temperatures - method of food preservation, Explain chilli...

Explain chilling temperatures - method of food Preservation? (a) Cellar storage temperatures (about 15° C): It is usually used for the storage of surplus foods like root crops,

Describe the clinical evaluation mvp murmur in details, Describe the Clinic...

Describe the Clinical Evaluation MVP Murmur in details? Characteristic: Mid systolic click followed by a late systolic murmur which usually extends to A2. The click may be abse

GRADE 8 SCIENCE, what effects do human technologies have on our water syste...

what effects do human technologies have on our water systems?

What is weaning from mechanical ventilation, What is Weaning from Mechanica...

What is Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation? It is crucial to get the timing just right as to when to discontinue mechanical ventilation and extubate. If too early, this might

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd