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

Which are the germ layers present in cnidarians, Q. Which are the germ laye...

Q. Which are the germ layers present in cnidarians? Which tissues of the animal do they originate? These beings present endoderm and ectoderm, two germ layers. Animals only wit

How would you perform abo blood grouping, Question 1 How would you perform...

Question 1 How would you perform ABO blood grouping? Add a note on advantages and disadvantages of each method. Also discuss the precautions you may take to avoid errors in variou

What is tall t-wave, Q. What is Tall T-Wave? It has been reported that ...

Q. What is Tall T-Wave? It has been reported that tall T-wave during or after exercise indicate inferior wall ischaemia. However, Ellestad reports the findings that tall T-wav

What is condition for the mendel''s second law to be valid, What is conditi...

What is condition for the Mendel's second law to be valid? The Mendel's second law is only valid for genes located in various chromosomes. For genes situated in the similar chr

Write the definition of counselling, Q. Write the definition of counselling...

Q. Write the definition of counselling? Definition of counselling "A process of helping or enabling a person / persons to solve certain interpersonal, emotional problems and

Define some features of penicillium, Define some features of Penicillium? ...

Define some features of Penicillium? The identifying features of Penicillium are: 1. Mycelium consists of colourless, septate and branched hyphae, some of which grow inside

What are the signs used in acute pericarditis, Q. What are the Signs used i...

Q. What are the Signs used in acute pericarditis? • Pericardial friction rub is pathognomonic of pericarditis. It is heard as a phasic scatching sound. It may vary with phases

What is the function of vitamin e, Q. What is the function of vitamin E? In...

Q. What is the function of vitamin E? In which foods can it be found? Vitamin E is also known as tocopherol is a fat-soluble vitamin that participates as coenzyme in the respir

In what ways does over gazing lead to soil erosion?, Ask In what ways does ...

Ask In what ways does over gazing lead to soil erosion?

What are gametes, What are gametes? Gametes are cells specialized in s...

What are gametes? Gametes are cells specialized in sexual reproduction. They have half of the maximum number of chromosomes of the species and unite with another gamete giving

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