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

Explain corrective surgery - endodontic surgery, Explain Corrective Surgery...

Explain Corrective Surgery - Endodontic Surgery perforation repair periodontal management (root resection, tooth resection) intentional reimplantation

What are deciduous trees, What are deciduous trees? Deciduous trees are...

What are deciduous trees? Deciduous trees are plants that lose their leaves in a period of the year. In the case of the deciduous trees of the temperate forest the fall of the

How to derive a mathematical equation, A microbiology student isolated a hy...

A microbiology student isolated a hypothetical bacterial cell that seems to quadruple every generation. Knowing that binary fission is an exponential function, derive a mathematica

ANIMAL KINGDOM , CLASSIFICATION OF PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES..

CLASSIFICATION OF PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES..

Explain about the biosensors and caramelization, Explain about the Biosenso...

Explain about the Biosensors and Caramelization? Biosensors:  A device that utilizes biological materials to monitor the presence of several chemicals in a substance. Carame

Ecg, Sinus tachycardia is common. ECG abnormalities may reflect the underly...

Sinus tachycardia is common. ECG abnormalities may reflect the underlying coronary artery disease by way of pathological Q-waves, ST-T wave abnormalities. Left ventricular hypertro

ALGAE., HOW ARE THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF ALGAE..

HOW ARE THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF ALGAE..

Why are the tropical forests also known as stratified forest, Why are the t...

Why are the tropical forests also known as stratified forests? In tropical forests tall trees of various species have their crowns forming a superior layer under which diverse

Phytochrome - development of plant, Phytochrome - Development of plant ...

Phytochrome - Development of plant You know that plants capture light energy during photosynthesis, now you are familiarised with another important and interesting role of lig

What is phylum nematoda - roundworms, What is Phylum Nematoda - Roundworms?...

What is Phylum Nematoda - Roundworms? Nematodes are commonly known as the roundworms. They have a pseudocoelom type of body cavity, and they have a digestive tract that opens t

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