Water Flashcards
(12 cards)
Why are hydrogen bonds important in water
Although they are very weak the large number f them present makes the molecules difficult to separate and gives water a wide range of Phil properties vital for life
Water as a universal solvent
As there is a dipole moment water molecules attract charged particles which dissolve in water so chemical reactions take place in solution
Water as a transport medium
In plant swater transports minerals minerals in the xylem and sucrose and amino acids in the phloem
Water as a metabolite
Water is used in many biochemical reactions as a reactant eg in hydrolysis and is a product in condensation reactions
Maltose+ water = 2x alpha glucose + water
Glucose + fructose = sucrose + water
Why is it imprtant that water has high specific heat capacity +high specific latent heat of vaporisation
Large amounts of heat energy are required to raise its temperature
- prevents large fluctuations in water temperature which is important in keeping aquatic habitats stable also allowing enzymes within cells to work efficiently
What is cohesion and its importance in water
When water molecules attract forming hydrogen bonds individually weak but because there are many of them the molecules stick together in a lattice
- allowing columns of water to be drawn up xylem vessels in plants
What is high surface tension and why is it important
Cohesion between water molecules attract charged the surface produces surface tension
- supports the body of an insect
Water has a higher density than ice
Water is denser than air and as a habitat for organisms provides support and buoyancy
Water is more dense than ice because the hydrogen bonds hold them further apart than they are in the liquid so ice floats on water
Ice as a good insulator
Ice is a good insulator preventing large bodies of water from losing heat freezing completely so organisms beneath It survive
Water as transparent
Water s transparent allowing light to pass through
Allowing aquatic plants to photosynthesise effectively
What s hydrolysis
The breaking down of large molecules into smaller molecules by the addition of a molecule of water
What is a condensation reaction
A chemical process in high two molecules combine to form a more complex molecule with the elimination of water
