Questions and Answers
What percentage of living matter is made up of water?
What characteristic of water allows it to stabilize temperatures in cells and ecosystems?
Which property of water helps dissolve waste products in the body?
What is the role of water as an ideal biological medium?
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What term is used to describe molecules that easily dissolve in water?
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What happens to the density of water when it freezes?
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How does water's ability to form hydrogen bonds affect its properties?
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Which inorganic substance is a trace element found in living matter?
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Which statement about the ionization of water is true?
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What role does water play in nutrient transport within organisms?
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Study Notes
Water Composition and Functions
- Water comprises 70-90% of living cells, existing as both free and bound water.
- Solids make up 10-30% of cells, while inorganic substances account for 1%, including Na, K, Ca, Mg, NH4, Cl-, SO4, PO4, and CO3.
- Trace elements such as Fe, I2, Cu, Mn, Co, and Zn are present in various organic combinations.
Importance of Water
- Acts as a universal solvent, facilitating the ionization of substances which accelerates chemical reactions.
- Exhibits hydrogen bonding capabilities, enabling the dissolution of organic biomolecules containing functional groups.
- Possesses high latent heat of evaporation, aiding in temperature regulation and heat conductivity.
Water as a Solvent
- Allows dissolved reactants to collide and form products, essential for metabolic processes.
- Aids in waste removal by dissolving waste products that are excreted in urine.
- Exhibits adhesion, enabling water to stick to unlike surfaces, enhancing interactions with polar compounds.
Thermal Properties of Water
- High specific heat allows water to absorb or release significant amounts of heat with minimal temperature fluctuations, stabilizing temperatures in cells and ecosystems.
- High heat of vaporization indicates that many hydrogen bonds must be broken for evaporation to occur, providing cooling effects.
Unique Characteristics of Water
- Lower density of ice results from hydrogen bonding, causing ice to float, which insulates aquatic environments.
- Water's polarity makes it an effective solvent for ionic and polar covalent molecules, facilitating nutrient transport in organisms like blood plasma, cytoplasm, and plant xylem.
- Supports hydration and dehydration reactions, crucial for various biochemical processes.
Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Molecules
- Hydrophilic (water-loving) molecules readily dissolve in water, enabling biological functionality.
- Hydrophobic (water-fearing) molecules do not dissolve in water, often repelling it, which influences interactions in cellular structures and functions.
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Description
This quiz explores the vital role of water in living organisms, focusing on its chemical composition and significance within cells. Understand the importance of water as a universal solvent and its influence on biological reactions. Test your knowledge on the inorganic and organic substances present in living matter.
