A1.1.

5
​Solvent properties of water linked
to its role as a medium for
metabolism and for transport in
plants and animals.
Water is a solvent.

the substance that

dissolves in a solvent
the liquid in a mixture of one or more
which a solute solutes dissolved in a
dissolves solvent
 Water is a solvent.
When a solute dissolves in water, their molecules The water forms hydrogen bonds (A1.1.2)
separate from each other and become surrounded with the solute, forming what is called a
by the water molecules. Solvation is the “hydration shell” around the solute.
interaction of a solvent with the dissolved solute (
D2.3.1).
Water is a solvent.
Polar molecules will dissolve in water because
they are “hydrophilic” (A1.1.4) and can can form
hydrogen bonds with water (A1.1.2).
● The slight positive charge (δ+) of of water
hydrogen atom is attracted to the negatively
charged region of the solute. The slight negative charge (δ-) of water oxygen atom
attracted to the slight positive charge (δ +) of glucose
● The slight negative charge (δ-) of of water hydrogen atom.

oxygen atom is attracted to the positively

The slight negative charge (δ-) of glucose oxygen atom
charged region of the solute. attracted to the slight positive charge (δ +) of water hydrogen
atom.
Water is a solvent.
Charged ions will also dissolve in water because
they are “hydrophilic” (A1.1.4).

Water is electrostatically attracted to ions.

● The slight positive charge (δ+) of of water
hydrogen atom is attracted to the negative
charge of an anion .
● The slight negative charge (δ-) of of water
oxygen atom is attracted to the positive
charge of a cation.

Labster
Not everything will dissolve in water!
Molecules that are nonpolar or do not have a charge atoms will not dissolve in water because they are
“hydrophobic”. Hydrophobic molecules can NOT attract water, so they are insoluble (do not dissolve)
in water. Hydrophobic molecules are attracted to other hydrophobic molecules, so they will clump together
when exposed to water.
Water
All lipids are hydrophobic (B1.1.8) so they will not mix molecules
with water.
Because of their hydrophobic
tail, phospholipids will form
bilayers in water, with the
tails not exposed to water Hydrophobic
tails are not
(B1.1.12). This is an example exposed to
of the function of a molecule water.

depending on it being
hydrophobic!
Water
molecules
Water’s solvent properties allow it
to be used as a medium for metabolism.
Cytosol is the liquid part of the cytoplasm, a structure common
to all cells (A2.2.4). It is composed of about 80 percent water
and also contains dissolved salts, fatty acids, sugars, amino
acids, and proteins such as enzymes (C1.1.1).

These dissolved substances are needed to carry out metabolic

processes required to keep the cell alive (C1.1.2) . If these
molecules were not hydrophilic, they would not be able to
perform their function.
Water’s solvent properties allow it
to be used as a medium for metabolism.
Water is needed for cellular metabolism
because it dissolves the reactants and
enzymes so they can come together for
reactions (C1.1.3).
◎ Catabolic reactions break down larger
molecules into smaller molecules
◎ Anabolic reactions build larger
molecules from smaller molecules.

Scitable
Water’s solvent properties allow it
to be used as a medium for transport.
Dissolved solutes can be transported in solution
around the body of an organism.
In vascular plants:
● Dissolved mineral ions are transported in
the xylem from roots to leaves (B3.2.7)
● Dissolved sugars produced in
photosynthesis are transported in the
phloem from source to sink (B3.2.18).
Water’s solvent properties allow it
to be used as a medium for transport.
Dissolved solutes can be transported in solution
around the body of an organism.
Animal blood plasma transports (B3.2.12):
● Salt ions such as Na+ and Cl-
● Amino acids
● Proteins such as antibodies (C3.2.6) and those used in blood clotting
(C3.2.3)
● Glucose which is used in cellular respiration (C1.2.4) and whose
concentration must be regulated (D3.3.3)
● Waste products of metabolism such as urea which is later
removed from the blood at the kidney (D3.3.8)
● A small amount of dissolved gasses such as CO2 and O2
Not everything will transport in water!

Because they are hydrophobic, lipids can not

be directly transported in solution around the
body of an organism (B1.1.8). In order to be
transported in blood fat droplets are first
coated in proteins and phospholipids to form a
structure called a “lipoprotein.”
Wakim, S and Grewal, M. Cytoplasm and Cytoskeleton. LibreTexts (date unknown). Available from 5.5: Cytoplasm and Cytoskeleton - Biology LibreTexts.

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