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

Define reagents for measurement of ph, Define Reagents for Measurement of p...

Define Reagents for Measurement of pH? Buffer solutions of pH 4, pH 7 and pH 9.18 for calibration and an unknown solution (i.e. solution of unknown pH) You can prepare these

Syngamy and triple fusion, Syngamy and Triple Fusion After traversing...

Syngamy and Triple Fusion After traversing through the stylar region, the ultimate destination of the pollen tube is to reach the female gametophyte and release the male game

Scientific american article suggests some improvement, The human skeleton h...

The human skeleton has evolved from that of four-legged animals. Unfortunately, the adaptation is far from perfect; thus, our upright posture causes problems like back age and the

Give some examples of secretory cells?, Endocrine and exocrine pancreatic c...

Endocrine and exocrine pancreatic cells, thyroid and parathyroid endocrine cells, adenohypophysis, adrenal and pineal endocrine cells, the lot of types of gastric exocrine and endo

Give brief description about the generalised seizures, Generalised Seizures...

Generalised Seizures Generalised seizures are bilaterally symmetrical without focal onset. One subtype, the grand mal attack, is characterised by loss of consciousness and by s

What are the main sources of mercury pollution, What are the environmental ...

What are the environmental harms caused by mercury pollution? What are the main sources of mercury pollution? Mercury is a metal that when present in the water of lakes, river

Agarose gel electrophoresis, Agarose gel electrophoresis  is the method to ...

Agarose gel electrophoresis  is the method to analyze the size of the DNA (or RNA) fragments. In the presence of an electric field, bigger fragments of DNA move through a gel slowe

Calculate ideal weight for a diabetic patient, Q. Calculate ideal weight fo...

Q. Calculate ideal weight for a diabetic patient? We now know that diabetes is the outcome of many genetic and environmental factors. The former is not in our control but the l

Dormancy - plant growth substances, Dormancy - Plant Growth Substances ...

Dormancy - Plant Growth Substances Dormancy can be defined as a state of suspended growth and metabolism. When most plants are exposed to seasonal periods of very inclement we

What is soil fertility evaluation, Soil fertility evaluation  In order ...

Soil fertility evaluation  In order to maintain soil fertility, nutrients removed from the soil by crops must be restored by the application of manures and fertilizers.  The se

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