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

What are the main human degenerative diseases, What are the main human dege...

What are the main human degenerative diseases? The main human degenerative diseases are separated into three groups: cardiovascular diseases, neoplastic diseases and degenerat

Typological species concept, The typological species concept was suggested ...

The typological species concept was suggested by Plato more than 2000 years ago. According to this concept, the immense variety in nature can be reduced to a few "types". Individua

What is placebo and nocebo, Problem 1: What is Placebo and Nocebo? Desc...

Problem 1: What is Placebo and Nocebo? Describe the significance of Placebo in clinical trials. Definition of placebo and Nocebo Significance of Placebo in clinical t

Explain the glycemic index in chronic diseases, Explain the Glycemic index ...

Explain the Glycemic index in Chronic Diseases? In addition to serve as an aid in planning diets for diabetics, GI of diets has been linked to a number of chronic diseases. Sev

Phylum, detail about phylum protozoa?

detail about phylum protozoa?

Explain about the glycoproteins, Explain about the Glycoproteins? Most...

Explain about the Glycoproteins? Most of the naturally occurring conjugated proteins are glycoproteins. Sugar molecules are covalently bound to them, especially those secreted

Precautions for determination of iodine number of lipids, Precautions for d...

Precautions for determination of iodine number of lipids? 1. If using the pipette for transferring the oil, allow the pipette to drain slowly and completely, as oil takes time

What is the function of the immune system, What is the function of the immu...

What is the function of the immune system? The immune system performs exact defense against agents, the antigens, that are foreign or harmful to the body. Exogenous antigens

What is skeletal girdles? explain in brief., What is Skeletal girdles? Expl...

What is Skeletal girdles? Explain in brief. In vertebrates, bones which connect the appendages on the left and right side of appendicular skeleton to each other. Skeletal girdl

Veterinary medicine have to do with physiology, What does veterinary medici...

What does veterinary medicine have to do with physiology and biochemistry? A lot of Physiology will teach about the function of animals and their parts. This is very significan

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