Water

Question 1

What are the properties of water?

Answer 1

• it’s polar
• it’s metabolic
• it’s a solvent
• it has a high specific heat capasity
• it has a high latent heat of vapourisation
• it has strong cohesion

Question 2

Explain the high specific heat capasity of water.

Answer 2

• it means that lots of energy is required to increase the temperature
• energy goes towards the bonds not increasing kinetic energy of the molecule
• this allows it to act as a buffer

Question 3

How can the high specific heat capasity of water be applied?

Answer 3

it makes it a good habitat for aquatic organisms becausethe water won’t change temperature rapidly, allowing them to function

Question 4

Explain the high latent heat of vapourisation of water.

Answer 4

• the large amount of heat energy is required for it to evapourate
• this allows organisms to cool themselfs down without losing too much water

Question 5

How can the high latent heat of vapourisation of water be applied?

Answer 5

• this is shown in sweating where heat energy evapourates water off the surface of the skin
• this is done by transfering heat energy to cool the organism down

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Question 6

Explain water being a good solvent.

Answer 6

lots of substances can dissolve in it

Question 7

How can the water being a good solvent be applied?

Answer 7

• in cells dissolved substances can be used for essential metabolic reactions
• O2 is dissolved in ponds which allow aquatic organisms to respire
• it can be used to transport substances in blood plasma (like CO2, mineral ions and chemicals)
• it can be used in xylem vessels to transport magnesium ions which make up chlorophyll that’s used for photosynthesis

Question 8

Explain the cohesion of water.

Answer 8

it means the water molecules stick together because of the hydrogen bonds between them

Question 9

How can the cohesion of water be applied?

Answer 9

• it allows long collumns of water to move up xylem tubes, making it a good transport medium for plants
• causes surface tension between where water meets air, making it a good habitat for insects (like pondskaters)

Question 10

Explain the suffience of water in metabolism.

Answer 10

• is a reactant in many reactions (hydolysis and photosynthesis)
• is a product in many reactions (condensation and aerobic respiration)