Biological Molecules: Properties of water Flashcards
What are the bonds in a water molecule?
= Covalent.
What charges are found in water molecules?
hydrogen- small positive charge
oxygen- small negative charge.
= Polar molecule.
Why are water molecules attracted to each other?
= opposite charges
= hydrogen bonds
Are hydrogen bonds weak?
= Yes.
= but large effects on properties of water.
What is the first property of water?
= high specific heat capacity.
= put it or take out a large amount of energy to change the temperature.
= heating water puts energy in to break + weaken the bonds- NOT KINETIC.
Why is Specific Heat capacity a suitable property?
= Allows aquatic organisms to live in the water, temperature does not rapidly change
= not function if this happened
= e.g: Cold and hot days.
What is the second property of water?
= ice is less dense than water- FLOATS
= ice is a habitat
= insulates water below- prevents freezing- organsims can live in the water under the ice.
What is the third property of water?
= very high latent heat of vaporisation.
= large amount of heat energy to evaporate the water
How is a very high latent heat of evaporation usefull?
= Allows organisms to cool themselves without loosing a great deal of water.
= e.g: Sweating- energy used to evaporate water from the surface and transfers of energy allows organism to cool down.
What is the fourth property of water?
= water molecules tend to stick together- cohesion
= Cohesion causes surface tension when water meets air, allows surface of water to act as a habitat.
What are the properties of water?
= high specific heat capacity
= ice is less dense than water
= high latent heat of evaporation
= water molecules tend to stick together- cohesion
