2.

2 WATER
Essential Idea
Water is the medium of life
UNDERSTANDINGS
INTRODUCTION
• Water is
arguably the
most important
biochemical of
all
INTRODUCTION
•Water is
considered to
be the
medium of
life
INTRODUCTION
•Without
water, life
would not
exist on this
planet
INTRODUCTION
• it is a major
component of
cells, typically
forming between
70% and 95% of
the mass of the
cell
INTRODUCTION
• Water provides
an environment
for those
organisms that
live in water
INTRODUCTION
• The vast majority of
biochemical reactions
take place in a liquid
medium
• Thus, it is obvious that
water is an essential
compound in the circle
of life
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER
MOLECULE
Understanding
Water molecules are polar and hydrogen bonds
form between them
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE

• Water is made up
of two hydrogen
atoms covalently
bonded to an
oxygen atom
(molecular formula
= H2O)
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE

• While this covalent

bonding involves
the sharing of
electrons, they are
not shared equally
between the atoms
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE

• Oxygen (due to
having a higher
electronegativity)
attracts and pulls
the electrons
more strongly
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE

• Therefore, oxygen acquires a
slightly negative charge (δ-),
leaving each hydrogen atom
with slightly positive charge (δ )
+
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE

• Water is described
as being polar
because it has a
slight charge
difference across
the different poles of
the molecule
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE

• The oxygen atom

is slightly negative
(δ–) while the
hydrogen atoms
are slightly
positive (δ+)
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE
• This charge difference
across the molecule
(dipole) allows water
to form weak
associations
(hydrogen bonds)
between water
molecules 
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE
• The partial positive
hydrogen atoms of
one molecule are
attracted to partial
negative oxygen
atoms of other water
molecules
STRUCTURE OF THE WATER MOLECULE
• Thus, the slightly
negative poles (δ–) will
attract the slightly
positive poles (δ+) of
other molecules, and
vice versa
PROPERTIES OF WATER
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
COHESIVE PROPERTIES
OF WATER
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
COHESIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Cohesion is the
tendency of water
molecules to stick to
each other due to
the hydrogen
bonding between
them
COHESIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Although hydrogen
bonds are weak
bonds, the presence of
a large number of
hydrogen bonds in
water gives the
cohesive forces great
strength
COHESIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER
• This in turn is responsible for
the high surface tension of
water, i.e. the stickiness (due to
hydrogen bonding) of water
molecules, making the water
surface behave as a
strong elastic membrane and
allowing small organisms or
some objects that are denser
than water to float on the water
surface
ADHESIVE PROPERTIES
OF WATER
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
ADHESIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Adhesion is the
interaction that water
molecules have with
other (different)
molecules and
explains why water
molecules stick to other
polar compounds by
forming hydrogen bonds
ADHESIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Forces of adhesion are
responsible for capillary
action, which is defined
as the movement of
water molecules (and all
the things that are
dissolved in it) within thin
spaces without relying
on gravity
ADHESIVE PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Adhesion allows
water molecules
to move up the
xylem in the
stems of plants
THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF WATER
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Due to the extensive
hydrogen bonding
between water
molecules, water has
the capacity to absorb
significant amounts of
heat before changing
state
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER
• The H-bonds need
to be broken before
a change in state
can occur and this
requires the
absorption of
energy (heat)
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER
•  Evaporating water
involves breaking
these bonds, and
therefore removes
energy from the
surroundings
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER
• This makes water a great
coolant
• Since all living organisms
have to maintain a certain
temperature range, water
plays an essential role in
the temperature
regulation of living
organisms
WATER AS A COOLANT
IN SWEAT
Application
Use of water as a coolant in sweat
WATER AS A COOLANT IN SWEAT
• The evaporation of
water as sweat is a
fundamental
mechanism
employed by
humans as a means
of cooling down
WATER AS A COOLANT IN SWEAT
• The change of
water from liquid to
vapour
(evaporation)
requires an input of
energy
WATER AS A COOLANT IN SWEAT
• This energy comes
from the surface of
the skin when it is
hot
• Therefore when the
sweat evaporates
the skin is cooled
WATER AS A COOLANT IN SWEAT
• Because water has
a high specific heat
capacity, it absorbs
a lot of thermal
energy before it
evaporates
WATER AS A COOLANT IN SWEAT
• Thus water
functions as a
highly effective
coolant, making it
the principal
component of sweat
THERMAL PROPERTIES
OF WATER AND METHANE
Application
Comparison of the thermal properties of water with
those of methane
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER AND METHANE

• Water and methane are

both covalent compounds
• Water consists of two
hydrogen atoms attached
to one oxygen
atom while methane has
one carbon atom bonded
to four hydrogen atoms
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER AND METHANE

• They are both small

in size and have a
similar molecular
mass (H2O = 18
dalton ; CH4 = 16
dalton)
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WATER AND METHANE

• They have similar

valence structures
(both have
tetrahedral orbital
formations, but water
is bent due to
unbonded electron
pairs)
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
METHANE AND WATER
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METHANE AND WATER

WATER METHANE
• Water is polar and can • Methane is non-polar
form intermolecular and can only form
hydrogen bonds (due weak dispersion
to high forces between its
electronegativity of molecules (carbon
oxygen atom) has a lower
electronegativity)
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METHANE AND WATER

• The difference in
thermal properties of
water and methane as
highlighted in the
Table can be
explained by the
presence of hydrogen
bonding
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METHANE AND WATER
• The extensive hydrogen
bonding between water
molecules which is absent in
methane, makes water:
• the most appropriate
medium for reactions to take
place in
• a very good coolant
• a very stable habitat
• a very good solvent
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
OF WATER
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
SOLVENT PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Water is commonly
referred to as the
universal solvent
due to its capacity
to dissolve a large
number of
substances
SOLVENT PROPERTIES OF WATER
• It can dissolve
ionic as well
as many polar
compounds
SOLVENT PROPERTIES OF WATER
• All reactions in
cells occur in liquid
medium and are
dependent on water
to dissolve the
reactants for
reactions to proceed
HOW WATER DISSOLVES
SUBSTANCES
Understanding
Hydrogen bonding and dipolarity explain the cohesive,
adhesive, thermal and solvent properties of water
HOW WATER DISSOLVES SUBSTANCES
• Polar attraction of large
quantities of water
molecules sufficiently
weakens intramolecular
forces (such as ionic
bonds) and result in the
dissociation of the
atoms
HOW WATER DISSOLVES SUBSTANCES
• The positive and
negative ions of
the solute interact
with the δ+ and
δ- of the water
molecules
HYDROPHILICITY AND
HYDROPHOBICITY OF
SUBSTANCES
Understanding
Substances can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic
HYDROPHILICITY AND HYDROPHOBICITY
OF SUBSTANCES
• Biological compounds
can be classified as
being
• hydrophilic or
• Hydrophobic
• depending on how
they interact with water
molecules
HYDROPHILICITY AND HYDROPHOBICITY
OF SUBSTANCES
• The polarity of water
molecules allows
them to attract other
polar or charged
compounds and
form hydrogen
bonds with them
HYDROPHILICITY AND HYDROPHOBICITY
OF SUBSTANCES
• This causes the polar
or charged
compounds to
dissolve in water and
such compounds are
said to be
hydrophilic or
‘water-loving’
HYDROPHILICITY AND HYDROPHOBICITY
OF SUBSTANCES
• Fats and oils are non-
polar substances
• There is no attraction
between them and
water molecules,
instead they repel
each other
HYDROPHILICITY AND HYDROPHOBICITY
OF SUBSTANCES
• Fats and oils
are therefore
hydrophobic
i.e. water-
fearing
MODES OF TRANSPORT OF
BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODES OF TRANSPORT OF BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

• The transport of
essential
molecules within
the bloodstream
will depend on
their solubility in
water
MODES OF TRANSPORT OF BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

• Water soluble
substances will
usually be able to
travel freely in the
blood plasma,
whereas water
insoluble substances
cannot
MODE OF TRANSPORT
OF GLUCOSE
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF GLUCOSE
• As a polar
molecule, glucose is
soluble in
both water and
blood and is
transported in the
blood plasma
MODE OF TRANSPORT
OF AMINO ACIDS
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF AMINO ACIDS
• These generally form
zwitterions (molecules
that have both
a positive and a
negative charge) in
water and therefore
are generally soluble in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF AMINO ACIDS
• However, the extent
of the solubility in
water varies
depending on the
size and nature of
the R group
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF AMINO ACIDS
• Polar amino acids can
be easily transported in
the blood as they are
hydrophilic, while non-
polar amino acids may
be transported in the
blood, but in lower
concentrations
MODE OF TRANSPORT
OF FATS
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF FATS
• As they are nonpolar, fats
are generally insoluble in
water and therefore are
transported in structures
called lipoproteins (a single
layer of phospholipids with
proteins embedded among
the molecules surrounding
the fat)
MODE OF TRANSPORT
OF CHOLESTEROL
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF CHOLESTEROL
• It requires the help
of transport
lipoproteins to
be transported in
blood because it is
hydrophobic
MODE OF TRANSPORT
OF OXYGEN
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN
• Oxygen is
nonpolar,
however, due to
its small size it is
soluble in water
to a limited extent
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN
• This is why oxygen
transported in blood
is bound to the
protein hemoglobin
in humans
MODE OF TRANSPORT
OF SODIUM CHLORIDE
Application
Modes of transport of glucose, amino acids, cholesterol, fats,
oxygen and sodium chloride in blood in relation to their solubility in
water
MODE OF TRANSPORT OF CHLORIDE
• As an ionic
compound, sodium
chloride is
transported in blood
in the form Na+ and
Cl- ions
BENEFITS OF THE PROPERTIES
OF WATER TO LIVING
ORGANISMS
BIBLIOGRAPHY / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
END OF UNIT