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

Accident causation - accidents and losses, Accident Causation - Acciden...

Accident Causation - Accidents and Losses Several accidents occurs everyday year round in industries. We have already discussed different types of accidents and injuries t

Exercise and medications in bronchial asthma, Exercise Stress or em...

Exercise Stress or emotional upset  Medications Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), beta- blockers(including eye drops), cholinergic dr

Determine the types of exercises, Determine the Types of Exercises Exer...

Determine the Types of Exercises Exercises are generally grouped  into three types: - Flexibility exercises such as stretching improves the range of motion of muscles and jo

What are the most important worm infections, Q. What are the most important...

Q. What are the most important worm infections? The most significant human worm infections are taeniasis, schistosomiasis, cysticercosis, ascariasis and ancylostomiasis (hookwo

Illustrate homologous chromosomes, Q. In which period of meiosis does the p...

Q. In which period of meiosis does the pairing of homologous chromosomes occur? The pairing of homologous chromosomes is a very important step for meiosis because the rightness

Social determinants of health - social exclusion, Social Determinants of He...

Social Determinants of Health - Social Exclusion Given that absolute poverty is a major determinant of ill-health, the resultant social exclusion is ‘psychologically damaging,

Porifera, general cherecter and anatomical stucture

general cherecter and anatomical stucture

Explain about the importance of vitamin e in human body, Explain about the ...

Explain about the Importance of Vitamin E in Human Body? Vitamin E is the generic term for tocopherols and tocopherols that have a Phenolic functional group on a chromane ring

What is lipoproteins, A lipoprotein is a biochemical assembly which haves b...

A lipoprotein is a biochemical assembly which haves both lipids and proteins, bound to the proteins that allow fats to move by the water outside and inside cells. The proteins serv

Agro industrial-baling and cubing, Agro Industrial-Baling and cubing Ba...

Agro Industrial-Baling and cubing Bailing is one of the most common processes used for the conservation of green fodders and grasses in many developed countries and attempts ha

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