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 is linkage, Question Write a short note on the following: 1 D...

Question Write a short note on the following: 1 Dihybrid cross 2 Supplementary interaction 3 Maternal effect 4 Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium 5 What is Linkage? Ex

Proteins made by the same total number of amino acid, Are there different p...

Are there different proteins made by the same total number of amino acids? Different proteins with the similar total number of amino acids may exist. In such cases the separati

Explain the transcription factor of zinc, Explain the Transcription Factor ...

Explain the Transcription Factor of Zinc? Zinc is an important structural component of DNA- binding proteins also known as 'transcription factors'. These transcription factors

Functional properties of cardiac muscle, Normal 0 false false...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Explain precautions for preparation of bacterial smear, Explain Precautions...

Explain Precautions for Preparation of Bacterial Smear? 1. Plates used should be prepared 24 hours before use to avoid spreading of colonies due to moisture in plates. 2. Sw

Define proteins as biological buffers, Define Proteins as biological buffer...

Define Proteins as biological buffers? Proteins have the ability to accept or donate hydrogen ions and by doing so they serve as biological buffers. In blood, there are three i

What is the typical shape of a population growth curve, Q. What is the typi...

Q. What is the typical shape of a population growth curve? How can the biotic potential be represented in the same way graphically? A usual population growth curve number of in

What is lymphatic network, What is Lymphatic Network? The lymphatic net...

What is Lymphatic Network? The lymphatic network consists of the lymphatic vessels, which circulate lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a liquid which carries out exchange of g

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