Chapter 2.1 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Is there an infinite amount of water in the biosphere?
No, there is a limited amount but it is recycled naturally
What is transpired?
When water is lost to the atmosphere through the pores of a plants leaves called stomata
What is evapotranspiration?
The combined evaporation and transpiration from a terrestrial area
What process is water a product of?
Cellular respiration
What results in the production of water during cellular respiration?
The breakdown of glucose
What makes up the metabolism?
All the chemical reaction that occur within an organism
What is the water produced in cellular respiration called?
Metabolic water
Where are the hydrogen and oxygen atoms that make up metabolic water found?
Glucose and atmospheric oxygen gas
What is the biogeochemical cycles?
The route that water and other chemical nutrients take through the biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere
What percentage of water in the biosphere exists as liquid form and why?
97% This is due to waters very high boiling point
Where does the water that is found in gas form in the atmosphere come from?
Evaporation and evapotranspiration. Mostly from the oceans
Why is water vapor considered a greenhouse gas?
It traps and transfers heat in the atmosphere
How does water transfer heat to the poles?
Radiant energy from the sun heats water from oceans and evaporates it. As the vapor rises towards the poles it releases heat as it cools
How is heat transferred by liquid water?
Ocean currents transfer warm water to colder parts. The warm water can heat the air causing a change in temperature
What properties make water an excellent carrier of dissolved minerals?
- Water is a universal solvent
- Water has a relatively high boiling and melting point
- Water has special adhesive and cohesive properties
- Water has a high heat capacity
What does a water molecule consist of?
Two hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one oxygen atom
What is the charge of the hydrogen end of a water molecule? Oxygen end?
Slightly positive
Slightly Negative
What do the charges on water molecules make it?
Polar
What kind of bond does the polarity of a water molecule allow it to make?
Hydrogen bonds
What is a hydrogen bond?
A weak attraction between the hydrogen of one molecule and oxygen of a nearby molecule
What does the structure of water enable it to do?
Enables it dissolve a wide variety of substances (ionic and molecular)
What does hydrogen bonding explain?
Why water remains liquid over a large temperature range and why water can continue to dissolve and transport substances over a large temperature range
Why do hydrogen bonds form, break free, and re bond regularly?
Because individual hydrogen bonds are relatively weak
Why is a large amount of energy needed to break many bonds in water?
Because many hydrogen bonds together are strong