water

Question 1

what are the properties of water simply from the spec?

Answer 1

• REACTIVE metabolite used in metabolic reactions ex. condensation and hydrolsis and is able to do so because it is a solvent and is a solvent because of its polar/charged molecules. has a high specific heat capacity and so acts as a buffer between changes of temp and maintains it
• has a high latent heat of vaporisation and so provides a cooling effect without losing lots of water through vaporisation
• has strong cohesion between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding able to support CONTINOUS COLUMNS also produces surface tension when it meets air

Question 2

notes:
- solvent and so allows IONIC substances to dissolve and allows TRANSPORT OF SUBSTANCES
- high specific heat capacity means it PROVIDES A STABLE ENVIRONMENT