Hezel Ann N.

Denus
BSED Science 3

1. Considering the physico-chemical properties of water and the body structure

and function of the water strider, discuss how it can stand, walk, and run on the
surface of a water molecule.

A combination of factors allows water striders to walk on top of water. Water

striders rely on the high surface tension of water and their long, hydrophobic legs to
stay afloat. Water striders benefit from surface tension due to their highly adapted legs
and evenly distributed weight. A water strider's legs are long and slender, allowing the
animal's body weight to be distributed over a large surface area. The legs are strong
but flexible, allowing water striders to keep their weight evenly distributed and flow
with the movement of the water. The water strider's body surface is covered in
hydrophobic hairs.

At the surface, water behaves differently. Water molecules are attracted to one
another and prefer to stay together, particularly on the surface where there is only air
above. Water molecules' attraction creates tension and a very delicate membrane. This
membrane is walked on by striders. The water strider's secret is its legs! The legs are
covered in tiny hairs that repel water and trap air. The tiny water striders stand on the
water's surface by repelling water, and the captured air allows them to float and move
easily. Water striders are approximately half an inch long, with a thin body and three
sets of legs. The front legs of a water strider are much shorter than the back legs.
Shorter legs are used to catch and hold onto food. Water striders consume insects and
larvae found on the water's surface, such as mosquitoes and fallen dragonflies.

2. Why are nitrogenous bases in DNA hydrophobic if they can hydrogen bond?

In terms of hydrophobicity, hydrophobic molecules are typically non-polar,

and nitrogenous bases are non-polar. With a few exceptions, the terms "non-polar"
and "hydrophobic" could almost be synonymous. A molecule is polar if it is bound by
polar bonds, which are formed when two atoms or molecules have different
electronegativity. There's a lot more to it than that, but I'm just trying to keep it simple.
The difference in charge (or electronegativity) between oxygen and hydrogen atoms
forms polar bonds, causing the water molecule to be polar.

Now, the presence of polar bonds does not always imply that the molecule is
polar, but let's leave that aside for now because I don't want to overload you. When
the bonds formed have an equal share of electrons, non-polar molecules form. Most
molecules prefer to have eight electrons in their outer shell, so carbon has four
electrons and hydrogen has one electron each. By forming non-polar covalent bonds,
they share these electrons equally. As a result, the molecule is non-polar (and
hydrophobic). Nitrogenous base molecules have complex structures with several non-
polar covalent bonds. The resulting molecules are hydrophobic due to their lack of
polarity. I could have simply simplified my response to the final paragraph, but I
wanted to make sure you were aware of the chemistry at work.