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 total anomalous pulmonary, Explain Total Anomalous pulmonary Venous...

Explain Total Anomalous pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC) ? In this congenital anomaly there is no direct communication between the pulmonary veins and the left atrium. All

Self-pollination - types of pollination, Self-Pollination - Types of Pollin...

Self-Pollination - Types of Pollination Self-pollination refers to the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower. In chasmogamous flowers the

Impact of technological change on the cost of health service, Impact of Tec...

Impact of Technological Change on the Cost of Health Service Technological developments entail improvement in production/service frontiers either by providing cost benefit adv

Explain the importance the relationship of structure, Explain the importanc...

Explain the importance of understanding the relationship between structure and function?

Explain what is patent ductus arteriosus in details, Explain what is Patent...

Explain what is Patent Ductus Arteriosus in details? Figure : Anatomical location of PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) may be an isolated defect or may co-exist with

Illustrate about whey protein, Illustrate about Whey protein Whey prote...

Illustrate about Whey protein Whey protein concentrate (WPC) is a highly nutritious ingredient manufactured from fresh dairy whey and it is spray dried to provide an excellent

Define procedure for measurement of ph, Define Procedure for Measurement of...

Define Procedure for Measurement of pH? To ensure reliability of the pH readings, you should first calibrate the pH meter. You should adjust the pH meter so that the readings a

Ecology, does jellyfish depend on solarenergy

does jellyfish depend on solarenergy

What are the two main morphological patterns of cnidarians, What are the tw...

What are the two main morphological patterns of cnidarians? Concerning locomotion how do these forms differentiate from each other? Morphologically, cnidarians categorize as po

What is bile salts, What is Bile salts Bile salts have a considerable...

What is Bile salts Bile salts have a considerable ability to lower surface tension. By  this property, they prevent  the coming together of the small fat droplets in  the  in

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