Water

Question 1

Name 5 properties of water:

Answer 1

1. Good metabolite.
2. Good solvent
3. Buffers temp change with relatively high specific heat capacity.
4. Relatively large latent heat of vaporisation for efficient cooling effect.
5. Strong cohesion

Question 2

What makes water polar?

Answer 2

Shared negative hydrogen electrons are pulled towards oxygen, left with slight positive charge. Unshared electrons on oxygen gives it a slight negative charge.

Question 3

What are hydrogen bonds?

Answer 3

Weak bonds between a slightly positively charged hydrogen atom in one molecule and a slightly negatively charged atom in another molecule.

Question 4

Why is it important for water to be a good metabolite?

Answer 4

Because many metabolic reactions involve condensation and hydrolysis reactions which require water or release water.

Question 5

Why is water a good solvent?

Answer 5

Because it is polar it can surround ions and they’ll dissolve which means living organisms can take up useful substances which can be transported around the body.

Question 6

What does a high latent heat of vaporisation mean?

Answer 6

Allows organisms to cool down without losing too much water.

Question 7

Why does water have a high specific heat of capacity?

Answer 7

Hydrogen bonds. Means water doesn’t experience rapid heat changes, maintaining a stable internal environment and habitat.

Question 8

What is cohesion?

Answer 8

Attraction between same type of molecules. Helps make water flow. Water has a high surface tension.