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

Determine the long lasting vaccine against common cold, Why doesn't a long ...

Why doesn't a long lasting vaccine against common cold exist yet? Viruses that show a high mutation rate like the virus that causes the common cold escape simply from the actio

What is the energy efficiency of photosynthesis, What is the energy efficie...

What is the energy efficiency of photosynthesis? a) What area is occupied by each molecule? b) Calculate the molecular absorption cross section in units of A 2   A cr

Define left posterior hemiblock, Q. Define Left Posterior Hemiblock? Bo...

Q. Define Left Posterior Hemiblock? Bobbna and associated reported four cases in which they proposed that the left posterior hemi block was initiated by exercise. In their pa

Explain adverse effects of zidovudine, Explain Adverse effects of Zidovudin...

Explain Adverse effects of Zidovudine  It include anemia, neutropenia, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, confusion, malaise, myopathy, hepatitis, and hyperpigmentation of or

Consequences of shifting the chemical equilibrium, Q. What are the conseque...

Q. What are the consequences of shifting the chemical equilibrium of the formation of bicarbonate from carbon dioxide and water towards the increase of product (bicarbonate) format

Which are the heart chambers, Which are the heart chambers respectively whe...

Which are the heart chambers respectively where the entrance and the exit of blood occur? The heart chambers by which blood enters the heart are the atria. There are the right

What type of light-sensitive cell is present in this region, a) Which regio...

a) Which region of the retina gives the most accurate interpretation of the image? b) What type of light-sensitive cell is present in this region?   (a) The fove

Signs and symptoms of emphysema, Pathophysiology Distension and damage...

Pathophysiology Distension and damage of the respiratory bronchioles selectively occur. Opening develops in the walls of the bronchioles. and they become enlarged and conf

Define structural elements - biological functions of protein, Define Struct...

Define Structural Elements - Biological Functions of Proteins? Structural proteins are fibrous proteins. The well known of the fibrous proteins are possibly the keratins, which

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