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

Test of deep vein thrombophlebitis, Test of Deep vein Thrombophlebitis ...

Test of Deep vein Thrombophlebitis Place blood pressure cuff on unaffected calf and inflate until pain is elicited (usually greater than 150 mm Hg).  Place blood press

What are catalysts, Catalysts are substances that decrease the activation e...

Catalysts are substances that decrease the activation energy of a chemical reaction, facilitating it or making it energetically viable. The catalyst enhances the speed of the chemi

Define unintentional adulteration - types of adulteration, Define Unintenti...

Define Unintentional Adulteration - Types of Adulteration? These are the contaminations occur unknowingly or incidently in the food during harvesting, handling, transportation,

How much nacl can be made using 30g of nacl, How much of a 10% w/v of nacl ...

How much of a 10% w/v of nacl can be made using 30g of nacl? Please show all steps.

Fluid mosaic model, FLUI D MOSAIC MODEL Proposed by Nicholson and ...

FLUI D MOSAIC MODEL Proposed by Nicholson and Singer (1972) Proteins and lipids are arranged in a mosaic fashion. Lipids and proteins are in a semi fluid structure.

Define about the paper electrophoresis, Define about the Paper electrophore...

Define about the Paper electrophoresis? In paper electrophoresis the sample is applied to a point on a strip of filter paper or cellulose acetate moistened with buffer solution

Explain sympatric and allopatric speciation, Sympatric OR allopatric specia...

Sympatric OR allopatric speciation Sympatry The development of new species within a population. Two Hebe sp living in the same location but with different chromosomal numb

Compare and contrast enantiomers in relation to sugars, Compare and contras...

Compare and contrast enantiomers, epimers, and anomers, specifically in relation to sugars.

Invertebrates, 1) What are some characteristics that define the lifestyle o...

1) What are some characteristics that define the lifestyle of a parasitic nematode? 2) What are beneficial nematodes? Discuss their significance

Primitive arthropods, Primitive Arthropods The primitive arthropods, O...

Primitive Arthropods The primitive arthropods, Onychophora (for example Peripatus) have a series of paired legs which are not jointed but have a ringed appearance because of 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