Chapter 1 : Molecules of Life

WHAT ARE THE

MOLECULES OF LIFE?

Draw ONE molecule of water and label Water is a polar molecule, draw a water
the bond IN THE molecule molecule and label its polarity.
WATER

What makes water to be a polar

molecule?

- Oxygen is electronegative
compared to Hydrogen.

- Electron shared between

Oxygen and Hydrogen spends
more time nearby atom.

** distribution of
charges between Oxygen and
Electronegativity : Tendency to electron. Hydrogen atom

What happens when you put 2 They will be to each other!

polar molecules nearby each other? – The partial positive hydrogen of
one water molecule will be
attracted to the partial negative
oxygen on the next water molecule.

The attraction is called bond.

1. Universal . 6. Maximum density at .
WATER PROPERTIES

2. Viscosity. 5. surface tension.

3. High heat capacity. 4. High heat of vaporization.

1. Universal .
Most molecules in cells are polar or charged. Therefore, they can form bond with
water.
Water will surround the molecules
forming shell. Therefore
the molecules will dissolve in water.

**Therefore water makes a good

medium for chemical reaction to
happen!

2. Viscosity.
Viscosity refers to the of a fluid to flow.
The higher the viscosity of a substance, the higher the resistance for it to flow, the more
for it to flow.

HOWEVER, water has a low viscosity, therefore it is to flow. This is because the
hydrogen bond between water molecules are simply attractions. Thus, can easily break and
reform. Therefore the water molecules easily slide past each other.

**Therefore, water makes a good medium of . Blood plasma is made up of 90%

water.
**Water also makes a good lubricant. Eg in fluid at joints.

3. Specific Heat Capacity.

Definition :

‘the amount of energy needed to increase the of

a substance by 1°C’
 Since water has a high specific capacity, it needs of energy to increase 1 kg of its mass
by 1⁰C.
Why?
• Molecules move at speed at high temperature.
• In liquid form, 1 water molecule can form hydrogen bond to 3 other water molecules.
• To enable water molecules to move faster and increase its temperature, a lot of is
needed to break a lot of bonds.

** Since it is easy to increase the temperature of water (i.e temperature of water

not easily fluctuates) it makes very good heat .
-Enable organism to regulate body temperature
-Enable aquatic environment to maintain constant temperature

4. High Heat of Vaporization.

Definition :
‘the amount of energy needed to convert 1kg of a
substance from to form.’
Since water has a high latent heat of vaporization, it needs energy to convert 1 kg of
its mass from liquid form to gaseous form.

Why?
• Molecules moves at speed and are located apart from each other in gaseous
state.
• In liquid form, 1 water molecule can form hydrogen bond to 3 other water molecules.
• To enable water molecules to move faster, be far apart from each other and become gas, a
lot of is needed to break a lot of hydrogen bonds.

** Water makes a good cooling mechanism for an organism. Evaporation of water from a surface
results in the cooling of that surface as heat is removed from it.

NOW THE SKIN IS 580 cal COOLER!

EVAPORATES Sweat (1g)

Body heat

Skin
5. surface tension.
Definition : The measure of how it is to break the surface of a liquid.
Based on the picture, what do you
think the surface tension of water
is?

This is due to the cohesiveness

between water molecules.

Cohesiveness = attraction between

the same molecules.

Drawing of legs of water striders on water surface. Water molecules can attract to each
other due to bonding.

Drawing of water droplet from tap.

Adhesiveness = attraction between molecules.

Cohesiveness = attraction between molecules.

Water molecules can form bonding and attract other molecules that are or
charged (like ions).

**Having high surface tension and its cohesiveness together with adhesiveness makes water
able to travel up the xylem in plants.

**Also causing water going up the narrow straw via capillary action
6. Maximum density at °C. FOR MOST ELEMENTS IN THE
PERIODIC TABLE AND FOR
MOST COMPOUNDS,

Solid is its densest form,

therefore the substance will
sink if placed in its liquid
form.

HOW ABOUT WATER?

WATER AS IT TURNS SOLID (towards 0°C)

As temperature drops, water molecules

moves at a sped and and begin
to get to each other.

At 4°C, the water molecules gets soo close

to each other (at its closest).

As the temperature drops further, water

molecules wants to with each
other

BUT

This is hindered by bonds

between water molecules. This bond will
keep each water molecule at a regular
distance, locking water molecules in a
regular arrangement called .

Since, tight packing is prevented and

crystal lattice is formed (both due to
hydrogen bonding between water
molecules) water when it
solidifies and becomes less
than liquid water.

HENCE ICE FLOAT IN WATER

**The floating layer of ice in pond and lake will water below. Thus, allowing the
aquatic life to survive/ exists.
**The floating ice provide habitat for organism such as polar bear and seal.