Water and Inorganic lons Lt Water is essential for life. It provides an environment in which more water than this (e.g. the human brain is 85% water). Many metabolic reactions take place in, and is iselt involved in many of the physical and chemical properties of water are significant biochemical reactions. Water is the most abundant ofthe smaller for fe (see below). Water is an excellent solvent. Molecules ‘molecules making uplvingthings.Theadulthumanbodyistypically such as Inorganic fons, proteins, sugars, and gases readily ‘about 60% water, but some cells and organs contain significantly dissolve in water and can be transported throughout the body. = abe WP Important Properties of Water Hyrogon teatactes tomec! Water molecule Water surrounding Water surroundi Forma: sO ‘8 positive ion (Na*) a negative ion (CI “The most important feature ofthe chemical behaviour of water i ts dipote nature. thas a mall posve charge on each of the two hydrogens and a smal negative charge onthe cxygen. a * ‘Alot of eneray is required belore water wil change st thermally stable and st ‘wanspiraton cause rapid cooing, Water's clouress, wih atigh transmission Ice is less dense than wator.Consequenty Water has low viscosity, strong cohesive of visibia ht, s0 ight penetrates issue and ge floats, insulating the underlying wator properties, anhigh surface tension. It can uate enconmert Se portng valle hala fon tee troup sal spaces Sy i io cy Low vscosy Water wil ow through very sal paces an capi 3 guid atrcom tperstire Provides gu medium for quate Me and inside cls = Py ae Many substances can sien wate provides a medium forthe chemical eactons of te | (metabolism), and a transport medium. ny {A signiticant amount of energy is required before water will change state. This means that cell ‘contents are unikely to freeze, environments are thermally stable. High latent heat of fusion |Water absorbs energy to evaporate. When an animal sweats, heat is lost by evaporation of the [Poh latent eet of eveponton ‘water to cause cooling. In plans, transpiration causes cooling Can absotb a lot of energy for only a smal ris in temperature. This allows organisms to maintain ae ee Stabe internal temperatures despite fluctuations in external temperatures. 1. On the diagram above, showing a positive and a negative ion surrounded by water molecules, draw the positive and ‘negative charges on the water molecules (as shown in the example provided) 2. Explain the importance of the dipole nature of water molecules to the chemistry of lfe: 3, Water is often referred to as a universal solvent. Explain why this is not quite true: _ CS cartes tee mate fC gr es Web links Hoge Bonds and Wore, Woter and pH Led