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

Define general nutritional functions of minerals, Define General Nutritiona...

Define General Nutritional Functions of Minerals? We hear and talk about minerals almost everyday with regards to maintaining good health. But what are minerals and what functi

How to grow root hairs, How to grow root hairs Hairs can simply be seen...

How to grow root hairs Hairs can simply be seen on the roots of mustard seed grown on a damp flannel. Seeds placed on an earthenware dish standing in a soup plate having water

Spiral cleavage - metazoa, Spiral Cleavage - Metazoa In Spiral Cleavag...

Spiral Cleavage - Metazoa In Spiral Cleavage, however, the third and fourth cleavage planes are oblique to the polar axis and the resulting blastomeres do not lie on top of on

5, Air Microbes

Air Microbes

What are the advantages of intra oral periapical radiographs, Advantages of...

Advantages of Intra Oral Periapical Radiographs a) It is a useful high yield modality for ruling out local bone or dental disease b)  It is of value in identifying critical

Explain about the chromium metabolism, Explain about the Chromium Metabolis...

Explain about the Chromium Metabolism? Chromium appears to be absorbed throughout the small intestine, with absorption being higher in jejunum. The mechanism of absorption has

Define energy requirements for underweight, Define Energy requirements for ...

Define Energy requirements for Underweight? The total calorie intake should be 500 to 1000 Kcal in excess of the daily needs in order to result a gain in weight by half to one

Where do the two neuronal pathways diverge, Where do the two neuronal pathw...

Where do the two neuronal pathways diverge For both the neuronal pathways i.e. light reflex and near reflex the efferent fibres go to are 3rd cranial nerve and then to sphinct

Respiration, what are the organs of respiration in lower forms of animals?

what are the organs of respiration in lower forms of animals?

Blastomycosis, Blastomycosis Blastomyces dermatidis is a dimorphic fung...

Blastomycosis Blastomyces dermatidis is a dimorphic fungus existing as a mold in the soil (saprophytic stage) and as a yeast in tissues (parasitic stage). It causes systemic fu

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