2.4 Water and its functions Flashcards
1
Q
(5) Biological importance of water:
A
- good solvent
- high specific heat capacity
- high latent heat of evaporation
- cohesive + water surface tension
- metabolite
2
Q
importance of water as a metabolite:
A
a metabolite in condensation and hydrolysis reactions
3
Q
importance of water surface tension and it being cohesive:
A
supports columns of water as they move up the xylem in the plant
4
Q
importance of water’s high latent heat of vaporisation:
A
needs a lot of energy to break the H bonds between H2O molecules to allow it to evaporate
- cooling effect
5
Q
importance of water’s high specific heat capacity:
A
Has H bonds
- Takes a lot of heat energy to change temperature
- this means it has a stable temperature
6
Q
what is water’s high specific heat capacity good for? (e.g.)
A
- cells and enzymes (doesn’t get denatured)
- aquatic environment
7
Q
(3) importance of water as a good solvent:
A
- capable of dissolving substances
- metabolic reactions happen quicker
- good for transport (e.g. minerals and ions)
