Water

Question 1

(a) Explain five properties that make water important for organisms.

Answer 1

Water is a A metabolite in condensation/hydrolysis/ photosynthesis/respiration

A solvent so metabolic reactions can occur
A solvent so allowing transport of substances;
High (specific) heat capacity so buffers changes in temperature;
Large latent heat of vaporisation so provides a cooling effect through evaporation;
Strong Cohesion between water molecules so supports columns of water in plants and transpiration stream;
Water has strong Cohesion between water molecules so produces surface tension supporting small organisms;

Question 2

State and explain the property of water that helps to prevent temperature
increase in a cell.

Answer 2

1. High (specific) heat capacity;
2. Buffers changes in temperature;

Question 3

State and explain the property of water that can help to buffer changes in
temperature.

Answer 3

(water has a relatively) high (specific) heat capacity;

2. Can gain / lose a lot of heat / energy without changing temperature;

Question 4

(water has a relatively) high (specific) heat capacity;
Ignore numbers relating to heat capacity
2. Can gain / lose a lot of heat / energy without changing temperature;

Answer 4

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