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

Botany homework troubles., The xylem and phloem of the plant could be descr...

The xylem and phloem of the plant could be described as the "circulatory system" of the plant. However there are key differences between vascular tissue in plants and our own circu

Describe the methods of assessment, Describe the Methods of Assessment ...

Describe the Methods of Assessment The four general principles outlined above, that is, adaptation, brain and behaviour, context, and development serve as the foundation for th

Controlled percussive instruments, Percussive instruments -this method...

Percussive instruments -this method used a selected and controlled percussive removal force -Instruments delivers an impact either directly to a restorative or indirectly t

State tantalum and niobium in alloplastic implant material, Tantalum and Ni...

Tantalum and Niobium in alloplastic implant materials  Tantalum has been used successfully in needle type, screw- type and double-bladed implants. However, both are difficult

Define protein requirements for physical fitness, Define Protein Requiremen...

Define Protein Requirements for physical fitness? Proteins provide energy to the body. Since exercise may increase an athlete's need for protein, depending on the type and freq

How is the nervous system of molluscs organized, Q. How is the nervous syst...

Q. How is the nervous system of molluscs organized? Molluscs have well-developed sensory structures. It is accepted that cephalopods, like squid and octopus, have eyes with ima

Name the final stage of cell division, During final stage of cell division,...

During final stage of cell division, mitotic apparatus disappears, chromosomes become attenuated, centrioles duplicate and split, nuclear membrane becomes reconstituted and nucleol

Why body composition assessment is done in sports & exercise, Why Body comp...

Why Body composition assessment is done in sports and exercise? Body composition assessment is generally done in sports and exercise for the following reasons: 1) It can ser

Explain uristix benedicts test, Q. Explain Uristix Benedicts test? No s...

Q. Explain Uristix Benedicts test? No sugar/glucose is excreted in the urine in normal individuals. In diabetics, glucose is excreted by the kidneys when the blood sugar levels

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