Biological Molecules

Question 1

What are the functions of water?

Answer 1

• Water is a reactant (part of many reactions e.g. hydrolysis)
• Water is a solvent (many substances dissolve in it e.g. ions in water into the blood and many biological reactions take place in a solution)
• Water transports (substances e.g. glucose, mineral ions, oxygen gas)
• Water is involved in temperature control (has high specific heat capacity and high latent heat of evaporation)
• Water is a habitat (contains oxygen and nutrients can be dissolved in it)