Importance of Water in Human Biology

Study Notes

Water is essential for life and constitutes approximately 75% of the human body.
Water is a polar molecule due to the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen atoms, resulting in a partial negative charge on oxygen and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms.
The polar nature of water allows it to form hydrogen bonds with other polar molecules, making it an excellent solvent for ionic compounds and polar organic molecules.
Water is vital for regulating digestion, transporting nutrients, and excreting waste products.
Water facilitates the transportation of digested products throughout the body.
Water serves as the medium for all metabolic reactions within the body due to its ability to dissolve polar molecules.
Water regulates body temperature through sweating and evaporation, leveraging its high specific heat capacity.
Water plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis as most cells are composed primarily of water.
Water contributes to the formation of biological membranes by interacting with various organic compounds.
Water impacts the structure and function of essential cellular components like DNA and proteins by regulating the folding process through hydrogen bonding.

Water has a high specific heat which means it requires a significant amount of energy to raise or lower its temperature.
This property makes water resistant to changes in temperature.