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 difference among essential and natural amino acids, What is the dif...

What is the difference among essential and natural amino acids? Essential amino acids are those that the organism is not able to synthesize and that require to be ingested by t

Respiration, different type of respiration in animals

different type of respiration in animals

Explain the role of pancreas in digestion, Role of Pancreas in Digestion ...

Role of Pancreas in Digestion Pancreatic  juices  secreted from  the  pancreas  aid  in  digestion  of  the  food. About 600-800  ml  of  fluid  i.e.  the  pancreatic juice  is

Explain the infarct exclusive technique, Explain the Infarct Exclusive Tech...

Explain the Infarct Exclusive Technique? Infarct Exclusive Technique :  Left ventriculotomy is done through the infarcted area. No attempt is made to close the ventricu

What is the difference among sexual spores and gametes, What is the differe...

What is the difference among sexual spores and gametes? Do humans present sexual spores or gametes? Sexual spores are structures formed from meiosis with ploidy (number of chro

Which is most likely be fatal to marin fish populations, If we were to comp...

If we were to completely eliminate one group of marine organisms from ocean, which would most likely be fatal to Marin fish populations? Elimination of: a) Starfishes b) Dia

GRADE 8 SCIENCE, what effects do human technologies have on our water syste...

what effects do human technologies have on our water systems?

Important Value Index (IVI) calculation, How can we calculate the IVI from ...

How can we calculate the IVI from a total number of (30) quadrats (each 30 x 30 m quadrats)

Planes of cleavage, Planes of Cleavage The ova of most of the animal ...

Planes of Cleavage The ova of most of the animal groups (except some specific cases like insects) are spherical or nearly spherical having their own actual centre comparable

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