water and inorganic ions

Question 1

Explain five properties that make water important for organisms.

Answer 1

• high latent heat capacity- cooling effect
• high specific capacity- temperature buffer
• solvent- substances can dissolve
  -metabolite- used In reactions e.g reparation
  cohesion- surface water tension

Question 2

Give two properties of water that are important in the cytoplasm of cells.
For each property of water, explain its importance in the cytoplasm.

Answer 2

-polar molecule- acts as a solvent
- solvent- reactions occur faster

Question 3

Describe the roles of iron ions, sodium ions, and phosphate ions in cells.

Answer 3

iron- haemoglobin
sodium- co transport in cells
phosphate- ATP

Question 4

Use your knowledge of water potential to suggest how high sodium
concentrations in the medicines taken could affect blood volume.

Answer 4

• high sodium ions reduces water potential in the blood
• so water moves from a high water potential to a low water potential by osmosis into blood increasing volume