Properties and Uses of Water Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the physical and chemical properties of water, hydrogen bonding, and its biological functions in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.

Hydrogen bond (in water)

A weak attraction connecting a partially negative ($\delta^-$) oxygen atom of one water molecule to a partially positive ($\delta^+$) hydrogen atom of another, represented by dotted or dashed lines.

Polarity of water

The uneven charge distribution in a water molecule that makes it an excellent solvent, allowing $\delta^-$ parts of the solvent to be attracted to $\delta^+$ parts of solutes.

Water as a solvent

A role of water in eukaryotes where it acts as a transport medium, a site for metabolic reactions, separates ionic compounds, enables absorption of minerals/ions/gas/food, and dilutes toxic substances.

Cohesion and water tension

The attraction between polar water molecules that helps pull water upward in plants during the transpiration stream.

High specific heat capacity

The property of water requiring a large amount of energy to heat up and to lose a large amount of energy to cool down, making it a very stable habitat.

High latent heat of vaporisation

The property of water requiring a large amount of energy to evaporate or change state from liquid to gas.

Ice density and insulation

Due to its giant lattice structure, ice is less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float, insulate the water below to provide a stable habitat, and serve as a habitat itself.

Water density (for floating)

The characteristic where water has a similar density to living organisms, allowing organisms to float.

Cyno bacteria (Photosynthetic bacteria)

Prokaryotic organisms that live in water and utilize water in their cytoplasm for metabolic reactions such as photosynthesis.