WATER

LESSON 2.6.2
GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
 WATER

 Most abundant liquid on the Earth

 Chemical formula:
 At room temperature, pure water is colorless,
odorless, and tasteless liquid.
 Water Prevents You From Becoming Dehydrated
 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

1. Water is a biological solvent

Water has the ability to dissolve many substances,
including the important molecules in biological systems.
It is a versatile solvent that is fundamental to life
processes due to its polarity

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 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

2. Water molecules stick to each

other and to surfaces.
Water molecules stick to one another
through its hydrogen atoms in a
property called cohesion. They also
cling to other polar surfaces through
adhesion.
Cohesion – it means to stick together or stay together. It is caused
by the cohesive attractive force between like molecules.
Adhesion – any substance that is capable of holding materials
together in a functional manner by surface attachment that resist
separation.

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 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

3. Water has high surface tension.

Due to hydrogen bonding, water molecules strongly
attract each other, particularly on the surface of water
than the air above.

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 Example of surface tension

Surface tension is a measure of the force necessary to stretch

or break the surface of a liquid, is related to cohesion.

(A) A paper clip can float on water because of surface tension. (B)
Surface tension also allows insects such as water strider to “walk
on water”
 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

4. Water has high heat capacity.

A relatively large amount of energy (heat) is needed to
raise the temperature of water. This property of water
prevents abrupt temperature changes in organisms to
maintain constant body temperature.

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 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

5. Water has high heat of vaporization.

Large amount of heat is, likewise, needed to turn liquid
water into gas or vapor. This property of water helps
prevent organisms from dehydration.

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 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

6. Water has high heat of fusion.

Large amount of heat must be removed from liquid
water to turn it into solid state or ice. Because of this
property, organisms are protected from freezing at low
temperatures.

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 Example of heat of fusion

 Solids can be heated to the point where

the molecules holding their bonds
together break apart and form a liquid.
 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

7. Water is a medium where chemical and

physical processes take place.
Water provides a medium for the breakdown and the
formation of food, absorption, secretion, and excretion.

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Water Helps Your Body Remove Waste
 Water helps your kidneys remove waste from your
blood and keep the blood vessels that run to your
kidneys open and filter them out.
 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

8. Water serves as a moisturizer of surfaces.

Gas exchange in respiratory organs of animals takes place
in a membrane moistened with water. The outer surface
of the eye is, likewise, maintained moistened with water.

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 Functions of Tears

 Tears not only keep the eye moist but

also have an important role in
maintaining the healthy functioning of
the eye.
 Preventing dryness – tears prevent
dryness by coating the surface of the
eye
 Creating a smooth surface on the eye
– tears lubricate and smooth surfaces
of our eyes
 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

9. Water is a lubricant.
Water prevents friction in joints during movement, in
the heart during contraction, and in the intestines
during digestion.

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 CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONS OF
WATER IN LIVING SYSTEM

10. Water is a good cushion.

Water in the cerebrospinal fluid protects the brain and
the spinal cord.

• Cerebrospinal fluid – formed primarily in the

ventricles of the brain, the cerebrospinal fluid H
supports the brain and provides lubrication between
surrounding bones and spinal cord.

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