3.1.7 Water

Question 1

What are the 5 main properties of water?

Answer 1

1. Solvent
2. Metabolite
3. High SHC
4. Large latent heat of vaporisation
5. Cohesion

Question 2

Water properties: Metabolite

Answer 2

allows reactions to occur (e.g. condensation, hydrolysis)

Question 3

Water properties: Solvent

Answer 3

allows metabolic reactions to occur, transports metabolites in blood

Question 4

Water properties: high SHC

Answer 4

buffers change in temp - e.g. in lakes, making them more habitable

Question 5

Water properties: large latent heat of vaporisation

Answer 5

cooling effect through evaporation (e.g. sweating, transpiration)

Question 6

Water properties: Coehision

Answer 6

-supports columns of water (e.g. transpiration stream in xylem)
-provides surface tension (allows animals to move over water surface, e.g. pond skaters)