Inorganic ions and water Flashcards
What is the role of nitrate ions?
Required to make DNA and amino acids
What is the role of calcium ions?
Needed to form calcium pectate for the middle lamellae in plants
What is the role of phosphate ions?
Required to make ADP, ATP, DNA and RNA
What is the role of magnesium ions?
Needed to produce chlorophyll
Why is water a polar molecule?
There is a uneven distribution of charge within molecule, oxygen atoms more electronegative than hydrogen, attracts electrons more strongly, means one end more positive than the other
Why is it important that water is polar?
It means that ionic substances can dissolve in water
Water is a __________ in which metabolic reactions occur
polar solvent
Why is water having a high specific heat capacity important?
Lots of energy required to change temperature, minimising fluctuations, allows organisms to survive in rivers and lakes in different seasons
why is water having relatively large latent heat of vapourisation important?
evaporation provides a cooling effect with little water loss (sweating)
Why is water being cohesive and adhesive important?
Water forms hydrogen bonds between adjacent molecules, can be transported in plants xylem tubes (cohesion).
Also means surface tension at water-air boundary is high so molecules can adhere to the side of tube-like cells
Why is water having its maximum density at 4 degrees C important?
Ice is less dense, so will float on top, providing insulating layer, prevents organisms freezing
why is water being incompressible important?
Provides good support, can be used in hydraulic mechanisms
