importance of water and its properties

Question 1

why is water a polar molecule?

Answer 1

there are unequal charges

delta positive hydrogen
delta negative oxygen

Question 2

why is water described as a universal solvent?

Answer 2

it can dissolve polar/ charged molecules and minerals/oxygen/CO2 can dissolve in water

Question 3

how do water molecules attract each other?

Answer 3

because of their polarity water molecules attract eachother by forming hydrogen bonds

bonds between the oxygen and hydrogen

Question 4

high specific heat capacity

Answer 4

a large input of energy is needed to raise the temperature of water

temperature of ponds/ lakes etc does not change quickly so conditions remain stable thermally

this is useful inside of cells as the temperature of cytoplasm is stable so enzymes dont denature

Question 5

ice is less dense than water

Answer 5

this means that ice will form an insulating layer over the surface of aquatic habitats e.g ponds so animals can still survive and move/ swim under water as the ice is only a top layer

Question 6

water is liquid at room temperature

Answer 6

it can be used as a transport medium e.g in blood in mammals and
in plants water transports dissolved ions up the xylem

Question 7

water as a metabolite

Answer 7

used in metabolic reactions
it is used as a reaction in hydrolysis and photosynthesis

it is produced in reactions such as condensation and aerobic respiration

Question 8

water has strong cohesive and adhesive properties

Answer 8

due to hydrogen bonds water molecules stick together (cohesive) and stick to other substances ( adhesion)
so water can be placed under high pulling forces and pulled through xylem tubes

Question 9

water is transparent

Answer 9

light can pass through for aquatic plants to photosynthesise
carbon dioxide and minerals can be absorbed for photosynthesis
light can pass through cyptoplasm of plant cells so it can reach the chloroplasts

Question 10

water has high surface tension

Answer 10

hydrogen bonds ( cohesion) form between water molecules. they are stronger at the surface which forms surface tension

the surface of water can support the mass of organisms and becomes a habitat for them e.g pondskaters

Question 11

high latent heat of vaporization

Answer 11

a lot of energy is needed to evaporate water so organisms use water evaporation to cool down e.g sweating
transpiration in plants also has a cooling effect on leaves
aquatic habitats dont evaporate easily