Water Structure and Ionization in Medical Biochemistry

These flashcards cover the key concepts related to the structure and ionization of water, its properties as a solvent, and its significance in medical biochemistry.

Water

A universal solvent essential for life, dissolves and transports compounds.

Ionization of Water

The process by which water molecules dissociate into hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-).

Electronegativity

The power of an atom to attract electrons towards itself; oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen.

Covalent Bond

A type of bond where electrons are shared between atoms, as seen in water.

Dipolar Molecule

A molecule that has a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other, characteristic of water.

Hydrophilic

Substances that interact with water and dissolve easily; typically polar or ionic compounds.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not interact with water and do not dissolve; typically non-polar compounds.

Solvent

The major component of a solution that dissolves the solute.

Solute

The minor component of a solution that is dissolved by the solvent.

Solutions

Homogenous mixtures of two or more substances.

Molarity (M)

A concentration unit defined as moles of solute per liter of solution.

Vesicle

A small sac that transports materials within a cell.

Micelle

An aggregate of surfactant molecules dispersed in a liquid colloid.

Double Membrane

A barrier consisting of two lipid layers, often found in cell membranes.

Concentration Units

Various ways to express the amount of solute in a solution, such as weight/volume, volume/volume, or molarity.

Factors Affecting Solubility

Factors include type of solute and solvent, temperature, pressure, and common ion effect.

Amphiphilic

Molecules that have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties.

Self-Ionization of Water

Water's ability to ionize into H3O+ and OH- ions.

Saturated Solution

A solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve at a given temperature.

Unsaturated Solution

A solution that contains less solute than can be dissolved at a given temperature.

Supersaturated Solution

A solution that contains more solute than can typically be dissolved at a given temperature.

Body Water Composition

Varies by age, with adults having about 60% body water.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom, significant in water's structure.

Total Body Water Volume

Approximately 40 liters, representing 60% of body weight in an adult.

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Fluid found outside of cells, making up about 20% of body weight.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

Fluid within cells, comprising about 40% of body weight.

Plasma Volume

Component of ECF, totaling about 3 liters.

Interstitial Fluid (IF)

Fluid that surrounds tissue cells, making up approximately 80% of ECF.

Chemical Reactions

Processes that involve the breaking and forming of chemical bonds; water participates in many.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances where each retains its own properties.

Depolarization

The process of losing polarization in molecules, seen in water solvation.

HCl Solution

A solution of hydrochloric acid often cited in examples of weight percent concentration.

EtOH Solution

Ethanol solution, illustrating volume percent concentration in practice.

NaCl Solution

Sodium chloride solution frequently used to demonstrate weight/volume concentrations.

Solution Preparation

The process of calculating the necessary amounts of solute and solvent to achieve desired concentrations.

Chemical Stability

Refers to the tendency of a compound to maintain its structure under varying conditions.

Biochemical Reactions

Reactions involving biochemical substances, heavily influenced by the properties of water.

Amphiphatic vs. Amphipathic

Terms describing molecules with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments.

Concentration Calculation

Method to quantify the amount of solute in a solution using various parameters.

Dissolving Speed Factors

Temperature, particle size, and mixing heavily influence how quickly a solute dissolves.

Hydrogen Bonding Importance

Crucial for water's unique properties, affecting everything from boiling point to solubility.

Body Composition Changes

Body water percentage varies significantly with age, with newborns around 80%.

Solution Homogeneity

Describes how uniformly substances are distributed in a solution.

Hydration Shell

The layer of water molecules that surrounds ions in solution, facilitating their interaction.

Osmotic Pressure

Pressure required to prevent the flow of water across a semipermeable membrane.