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

How the needles are classified by thier point geometry, How the needles are...

How the needles are classified by thier point geometry Needles may also be classified by their point geometry; examples include: - taper (needle body is round and tapers smo

How are water and mineral salts tranport in the plant, How are water, miner...

How are water, mineral salts and food (sugar) transported throughout the plant? Water, mineral salts and sugar are transported throughout the plant through conductive vessels f

Food chain, Food chain is the simplest representation of energy flow in th...

Food chain is the simplest representation of energy flow in the community. At the base is energy stored in the plants, which are eaten by the small organisms, which in turn are ea

Determine the width of attached gingiva at implant site, Width of Attached ...

Width of Attached Gingiva at Implant Site The zone of attached gingiva needs to be intact and of adequate width to protect (by separating) the tissue around the implant. If it

What are biotic factors, What are biotic factors? The Biotic factors ar...

What are biotic factors? The Biotic factors are living beings (plants, microorganisms and animals) that are part of a given environment.

What is difficult breathing, What is difficult breathing? Difficult Bre...

What is difficult breathing? Difficult Breathing: Tachypnea (respiratory rates consistently more than 451 min), is a characteristic manifestation of heart failure in newborns (

How can the presence, Q. How can the presence, function of muscular tissue ...

Q. How can the presence, function of muscular tissue and localization in beings of the phylum Annelida is explained? In these beings there are a longitudinal muscular layer und

Explain the term- pupil, Explain the term- PUPIL Pupil is  the  apertu...

Explain the term- PUPIL Pupil is  the  aperture in  centre of  the  iris diaphragm that regulates entry  of  light into the eye. Colour of  pupil  is  said  to be  black. Actu

Photosynthesis, Aim: To prove that oxygen is evolved during photosynthesis....

Aim: To prove that oxygen is evolved during photosynthesis. Apparatus: Beaker, funnel, test tube, water, Hydrilla plants. Procedure: Take a few pieces of Hydrilla plant. Keep a

Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, Unsaturated fatty acids require some ...

Unsaturated fatty acids require some additional processing before they can be degraded completely by β-oxidation.  The Unsaturated fatty acyl CoAs with double bonds at odd-numbered

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