Water Flashcards
Water is a liquid at room temperature so it can…
Provide habitats for living things in rivers, lakes and seas.
Form a major component of the tissues in living organisms.
Provide a reaction medium for chemical reactions.
Provide an effective transport medium e.g. in blood and vascular tissue.
Because ice is less dense than water…
Aquatic organisms have a stable environment in which to live through the winter.
Ponds and other bodies of water are insulated against extreme cold. The layer of ice reduces the rate of heat loss from the rest of the pond.
Because water is such a good solvent…
Molecules and ions can move around and react together in water. Many such reactions happen in the cytoplasm of the cell which is over 70% water.
Molecules and ions can be transported around living things whilst dissolved in water.
Because of cohesions and surface tension in water…
Columns of water in plant vascular tissue are pulled up the xylem tissue together from the roots.
Insects like pond-skater can walk on water.
High specific heat capacity is important in water because…
Living things, including prokaryotes and eukaryotes, need a stable temperature for enzyme-controlled reactions to happen properly.
Aquatic organisms need a stable environment in which to live.
