Water Flashcards
Biological molecules
What properties of water make it an important molecule
Polar
Metabolite
High specific heat capacity
Cohesion
Solvent
Large latent heat of vaporisation
Why does water being a polar molecule make it important
Polar due t the uneven distribution of chargein the molecule which gives the water negative charge near its oxygen atoms and positive charge near its hydrogen atom
Why does water being a metabolite make it important
Involved in reactions like hydrolysis and condensation in the breaking and formation of bonds
Why does water being a solvent make it important
Allows metabolic reactions to occur and allows transport of substances
Why does water having a high heat specific capacity make it important
The SHC of a substance is the amount of thermal energy required to raise 1kg of the molecule by 1C
so it can buffer changes in temperature
Why does water being cohesive make it important
Cohesion between water molecules so
Supports columns of water in plants
produces surface tension supporting small organisms
Why does water having a high latent heat of vaporisation make it important?
As it provides a cooling effect though evaporation
