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 blood stem cells, What are blood stem cells? Stem cells are un...

What are blood stem cells? Stem cells are undifferentiated cells able to distinguish into other types of specialized cells. The stem cells of the bone marrow create the diff

What are the sign of horner''s syndrome, What are the sign of Horner's synd...

What are the sign of Horner's syndrome? 1. Miosis, 2. ptosis, 3. enophthalmos, 4. anhidrosis and 5. heterochrome iridis.

Ilustrate the binding of atp to actin, Which of the following is true in a ...

Which of the following is true in a skeletal muscle? A. Movement of the cross-bridge occurs only when the myosin head is detached from the actin molecule. B. The binding of

Assessment of ventricular septal defect, Assessment   On assessment a c...

Assessment   On assessment a child with ventricular septal defect will show clinical manifestations depending upon the size of  the defect. The small defects are usually asympt

Reason of population growth, Some of the reason for increase in population ...

Some of the reason for increase in population is: 1.         Decline in death for an increase in life expectancy or longevity. 2.         Better medical facilities

Explain about the integumentary tissues, Explain about the Integumentary Ti...

Explain about the Integumentary Tissues? The skin, hair and nails covering and protecting the body are the intengumentary tissues. Depigmentation of hair and wrinkling of skin

What do you understand by carcinogens, Q. What are carcinogens? The Car...

Q. What are carcinogens? The Carcinogens are factors capable of producing neoplasias and any mutagen, a substance that can induce DNA mutation, is a potential carcinogen. Insta

Indications for surgery, Indications for Surgery :  Patients with moderate...

Indications for Surgery :  Patients with moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation that is functional will need tricuspid annuloplasty at the time of correction of mitral valve d

A balanced diet must contain enough energy, A balanced diet must have enoug...

A balanced diet must have enough energy to meet the body's needs. What else must it have?    In addition to sufficient energy, a balanced diet must have proteins, car

How to removes hydrogen from fatty acids, Suppose you treated butter with a...

Suppose you treated butter with a fatty acid desaturase, an enzyme that removes hydrogen from fatty acids and creates double bonds. What would happen?

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