Unit 2: The Chemistry of Water

Question 1

How is water a major component of the body’s lubricating fluids?

Answer 1

• Water in synovial fluid lubricates the joints.
• Water in pleural fluid helps lungs expand and recoil when breathing.
• Water helps food flowing through the digestive tract and ensure it is friction free.
• Water protects cells/organs from physical trauma and cushion the brain.
• Water cushions developing fetus.

Question 2

Water and heat sink?

Answer 2

A heat sink is a substance that absorbs and breaks up heat but does not experience an increase in temperature. in the body, water absorbs heat generated by chemical reactions but doesnt increase in temperature. Also when it gets hot outside, the stored water in the body keeps the body cool.

Question 3

For cells to survive they must be kept?

Answer 3

moist in a water based liquid called a solution.

Question 4

What is a solution?

Answer 4

A homogenous liquid mixture in which a solute is dissolved into molecules within a solvent.

Question 5

Explain the two types of chemical reactions!

Answer 5

Dehydration synthesis: one molecule provides hydrogen and one molecule provides hydroxyl group. They combine and release water as a byproduct. Basically, formation of a larger molecule by removing water.
Hydrolysis: Molecule of water breaks the bonds. Water molecule splits into hydrogen and a hydroxyl group. Breakdown of a larger molecule into smaller molecules by adding water.

Question 6

How much body mass is water in infants and old age, men vs women?

Answer 6

infants: 75%
old age: 45%
women: 50%
men: 60%

Question 7

What is intracellular fluid?

Answer 7

The fluid inside the cells.

Question 8

What is extracellular fluid?

Answer 8

The fluid outside the cells such as in plasma(fluid component of blood) or interstitial fluid(surrounds all the cells not in blood).

Question 9

Intracellular fluid is the principal component of?

Answer 9

cytosol/cytoplasm.

Question 10

What percentage of the human body does intracellular fluid make up?

Answer 10

55%/20L.

Question 11

What percentage of the human body does extracellular fluid make up?

Answer 11

45%.
16% of that is found in plasma.
80% of extracellular fluid is the interstitial fluid.

Question 12

What is plasma?

Answer 12

An extracellular fluid: fluid component of blood. contains blood cells, proteins, electrolytes, gases, wastes.

Question 13

Cells are separated from the interstitial fluid by a?

Answer 13

selectively permeable cell membrane that helps regulate passage of materials in and out of the cell.

Question 14

What are other water based extracellular fluid?

Answer 14

• cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord.
• lymph
• synovial fluid
• pleural fluid
• pericardial fluid
• peritoneal fluid
• aqueous humor of eye