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

Alzheimer’s disease research paper, Alzheimer's  disease -  a  devastating ...

Alzheimer's  disease -  a  devastating  brain  disease  which  gradually  ruins  the  ,  thinking  skills,  patient's  memory and  ultimately  the  ability  to  perform  the  simpl

Understanding behaviour of diabetic patients, Q. Understanding Behaviour of...

Q. Understanding Behaviour of diabetic patients? Beliefs  Each of us has a set of beliefs that were learned by us when we were young. These include religious beliefs and

What are alternative medicines, Question 1: Differentiate between Tradi...

Question 1: Differentiate between Traditional, complementary and alternative medicines. Cite examples for each type. Definition of Traditional, alternative medicines and

Which are the 2 main divisions of autonomic nervous system, Question 1....

Question 1. Which are the 3 different processes in the formation of urine? Explain 2. Discuss resting membrane potential and nerve action potential 3. Name the chemical s

What are the three main parts of a eukaryotic cell, Q. What are the three m...

Q. What are the three main parts of a eukaryotic cell? The eukaryotic cell can be separated into two major portions: the cell membrane that separates the intracellular space fr

Dissociative (conversion) disorders, DISSOCIATIVE  (CONVERSION) DISORDERS: ...

DISSOCIATIVE  (CONVERSION) DISORDERS: There is normally a considerable degree of conscious control over the memories and sensations that can be selected for immediate attentio

GENETICS.., DO I GET MY ANSWERS RIGHT AWAY?

DO I GET MY ANSWERS RIGHT AWAY?

Phototherapy, Phototherapy As you know exposure of the jaundiced infa...

Phototherapy As you know exposure of the jaundiced infant to blue, white or green light is effective in reducing the serum billirubin level. When bilirubin absorbs light, ser

Alleles and possible causative candidate alleles, Genome wide association s...

Genome wide association studies must account for the fact that covering the entire genome with marker loci will produce ______ associations between linked marker alleles and possib

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