Water (3.1.7) Flashcards
Describe the structure of water
-dipolar, oxygen atoms are slightly negative and hydrogen atoms are slightly positive
-hydrogen bonds form between water molecules due to its dipolarity
What are the 5 key properties of water?
-it’s a metabolite
-it’s a solvent
-high specific heat capacity
-large latent heat of vaporisation
-strong cohesion
Water is a metabolite for many reactions such as hydrolysis and condensation, why is this important?
Our blood plasma contains water and so it helps with blood circulation
Water is a solvent (many substances dissolve in it) why is this and why is it important?
-Due to its dipolarity, hydrogen attracts negative ions and oxygen attracts positive ions -Allows necessary substances to easily be transported around animals and plants as they contain lots of water
What is the importance of water having a high specific heat capacity?
-Water remains stable (acts as a buffer) for organisms
-prevents enzymes from denaturing as they overheat
What is the importance of water having a large latent heat of vaporisation?
Provides a ‘cooling effect’ for organisms and allows us to sweat
Water has strong cohesion, why is this important for organisms?
-Allows a continuous column of water up the xylem during transpiration
-causes surface tension creating an ecosystem for small invertebrates to live on the water surface
Why does water have a high specific heat capacity?
A lot of energy is required to raise the temperature of the water as some of the heat energy is used to break hydrogen bonds
Why does water have a large latent heat of vaporisation?
A lot of energy is required to change it from a liquid to a gas due to energy being needed to break the hydrogen bonds so it can convert to a gas
Why does water have strong cohesion?
Water molecules stick together due to hydrogen bonds
