Property of Water

Functions

Water is a solvent for

ions and polar
molecules.

- Once a chemical is in a solution it is free to react with other

chemicals (metabolism).

- It pushes polar molecules together (hydrophobic interactions).

- It acts as a transport medium in the blood, lymphatic,
digestive, and excretory systems of animals and the vascular
tissues of plants.

High specific heat

capacity

- Allows temperatures within cells and bodies to be more

constant than that of the air around them.

- Biochemical reactions can occur at a more constant rate and

are less easily affected by extremes of temperature.

- Large bodies of water change temperatures more slowly than

the environment around them, providing a stable environment
for aquatic organism.
High latent heat of
vapourisation

- Organisms can use evaporation as a cooling mechanism

(sweating/transpiration) while preventing dehydration.

- Less likely for large bodies of water to freeze, so aquatic

organisms have higher chances of survival.

Liquid water has

higher density than
ice

- Ice floats on water, insulating the water underneath, so the

chances of survival for aquatic organisms increase.

- Changes in water density cause currents which maintain the

circulation of nutrients in the oceans.

High surface tension

and cohesion

- Water can move in long unbroken columns in the vascular

tissues of plants.

- Allows certain organisms to settle or skate over the waters

surface (e.g. pond skaters).

Water is a reagent
(sometimes)

- Hydrogen is used as a fuel in plants.

- Oxygen is needed for aerobic respiration.
- Water is essential for hydrolysis reactions.