1.7 Water Flashcards

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1
Q

Water is a … molecule.

A

dipolar

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2
Q

Name 6 properties of water.

A
  • a solvent
  • high specific heat capacity
  • high latent heat of vaporisation
  • a metabolite
  • cohesion
  • adhesion
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3
Q

What is the role of water being a solvent for living organisms?

A
  • many molecules can dissolve in water allowing chemical reactions to occur within cells
  • metabolites can be transported efficiently
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4
Q

Why is water a solvent?

A

Water is a polar molecule.

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5
Q

What is the role of water having a high specific heat capacity for living organisms?

A
  • allows water to be a suitable habitat
  • buffers temperature changes so optimal temperature is maintained → vital in maintaining temperatures that are optimal for enzyme activity
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6
Q

What is the role of water having a high specific latent heat of vaporisation for living organisms?

A
  • provides a cooling effect for living organisms
  • (e.g. evaporation of water in sweat, transpiration)
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7
Q

What feature of water allows it to have a high shc and slh of vaporisation?

A

Many hydrogen-bonds.

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8
Q

In which processes is water a metabolite?

A
  • condensation
  • hydrolysis
  • photosynthesis
  • respiration
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9
Q

What does cohesion between water molecules allow?

A
  • supports transpiration stream in plants
  • produces surface tension to support small organisms
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10
Q

What does adhesion between water molecules and other molecules allow?

A
  • enables water to move up the xylem as water forms hydrogen bonds with cellulose.
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11
Q

Exam Q: Explain 5 properties that make water important for organisms

A
  1. A metabolite in condensation/hydrolysis/ photosynthesis/respiration;
  2. A solvent so (metabolic) reactions can occur
    OR
    A solvent so allowing transport of substances;
  3. High (specific) heat capacity so buffers changes in temperature;
    For ‘buffer’ accept ‘resist’.
  4. Large latent heat of vaporisation so provides a cooling effect (through
    evaporation);
  5. Cohesion (between water molecules) so supports columns of water
    (in plants)/ transpiration stream
  6. Cohesion (between water molecules) so produces surface tension
    supporting (small) organisms;
    For cohesion accept hydrogen bonding
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