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

Direct use values of biodiversity, Q. Direct use values of biodiversity? ...

Q. Direct use values of biodiversity? Direct use values are for those goods that are ensured directly e.g. food and timber. Maintaining a wide range of components of biological

Photosynthetically active radiation, Photosynthetically Active Radiation ...

Photosynthetically Active Radiation This is usually in direct proportion with the incident solar radiation, you know that tropic$ are probably the best illuminated part of the

Cancer, What is Cancer? Besides AIDS, Cancer is another deadly human di...

What is Cancer? Besides AIDS, Cancer is another deadly human disease of our times about which people are panicky all over the world. It is estimated that one in every three per

Discuss about nerve to mylohyoid, Nerve to Mylohyoid Motor branch of i...

Nerve to Mylohyoid Motor branch of inferior dental nerve which descends in a groove on the medial surface of the mandibular ramus. Surgical intervention in this area may lead

Reducing pollution - conservation of wildlife, Reducing Pollution - Conserv...

Reducing Pollution - Conservation of wildlife As you already know, pollution of various kinds has affected the survival of living beings, particularly the wildlife in various

Sonology, Sonology : This is the study of hearing. Sonology is a type of sc...

Sonology : This is the study of hearing. Sonology is a type of science of neologism which is used to describe the study of sound in a variety of disciplines. In medicine, this term

Explain nutritional requirements of microbes, Explain Nutritional Requireme...

Explain Nutritional Requirements of Microbes? Microorganisms require various nutrients and physical factors for their existence and growth. Nutrients are substances used in bio

What will be the final volume, Suppose a sample of 200 microliters of blood...

Suppose a sample of 200 microliters of blood needs to be diluted 1/50. How much diluents should be added and what will be the final volume? Show all steps.

Explain restricted fragment polymorphism, Q. Explain Restricted fragment po...

Q. Explain Restricted fragment polymorphism? This method makes use of a group of enzymes termed restriction enzymes which recognise particular sequence of DNA and act as "molec

Algae, What is the basis of classification of algae

What is the basis of classification of algae

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