Water and Inorganic Ions

Question 1

Hey guess what

Answer 1

I believe in you

Question 2

Why is water important?

Answer 2

It is a metabolite in many reactions and cell metabolic reactions occur in aqueous solution.

Question 3

Why can water ‘stick together’?

Answer 3

Each H atom shares its electrons with an O atom. Because O has more protons than H, it pulls more strongly on these electrons.
This means that at the end of O molecules, the charge is slightly negative, while the hydrogen ends are slightly positive. This forms hydrogen bonds.

Question 4

What are the properties of water?

Answer 4

• It is a metabolite
• It is a solvent (metabolic reactions occur faster in it)
• Relatively high heat capacity so can buffer changes in temperature
• Large latent heat of vaporisation so provides a cooling effect with little loss of water via evaporation
• Strong cohesion due to being polar so creates columns of water and provides surface tension when water meets air

Question 5

Negative ions migrate to the ____ electrode (____) so are called ____

Answer 5

Negative ions migrate to the positive electrode (anode) so are called anions

Question 6

Positive ions migrate to the ____ electrode (____) so are called ____

Answer 6

Positive ions migrate to the negative electrode (cathode) so are called cations

Question 7

Give two properties of water that are important in the cytoplasm of the cells. (4)

Answer 7

1. Polar molecule;
2. Acts as a (universal) solvent;
3. (Universal) solvent;
4. (Metabolic) reactions occur faster in solution;
5. Metabolite;
6. Takes place in hydrolysis / condensation / named reaction;