water and life Flashcards
what is water on earth?
biological medium
what type of molecule is a water molecule?
a polar molecule: opposite ends have opposite charges
what type of molecule is a water molecule?
a polar molecule: opposite ends have opposite charges
what does the polarity of water molecules allow?
allows water molecule to form hydrogen bonds with each other
what are the four properties of water?
cohesive behavior, ability to moderate temperature, expansion upon freezing, versatility as a solvent
what is cohesion?
hydrogen bonds holding water molecules together
what is adhesion?
attraction between water and a different substance
what do cohesion and adhesion allow for?
capillary action
what is capillary action?
help the transport of water against gravity in plants
what is surface tension?
measure of how hard it is to break the surface of a liquid
what is surface tension related to?
cohesion
how does water moderate temperature?
Water absorbs heat from warmer air and
releases stored heat to cooler air with only a
slight change in its own temperature due to H
bonds
what is because of the water’s hydrogen bonds?
water’s high specific heat
what does water’s high specific heat do?
minimizes temperature fluctuations in biological system
what does water’s high specific heat do?
minimizes temperature fluctuations in biological system