Properties of Water

The Process of Life Beginning in Water

* first cells and their membranes formed around small volumes of water
* chemical reactions happen between water dissolved substances
* liquid water allows molecules to interact

condensation reaction

water formed as one of the products when two molecules join together

hydrolysis reaction

water reacts with chemical to break into smaller molecules

metabolism

chemical reactions occuring in cells

metabolites

chemicals involved in metabolism are

water is a metabolite

either as reactant or product

metabolic reactions in cells are catalyzed by enzymes →

which can be impacted by temperature

what buffers temperature and why?

water due to high specific heat capacity

Examples of Water maintaining biological structures

* water contributes to the formation of cell membranes
* water impacts the folding of proteins
* water surrounds DNA to support the double-helix

the atom is the

smallest unit of matter.

atoms are composed of

protons(+), neutrons(no net charge), electrons(-)

atoms are electrically neutral if they have

equal protons and electrons.

ion

atom with charge

atoms form bonds through

electrons transferring to other atoms or being shared

chemical bond →

attraction between atoms, ions, molecules forming chemical compounds

types of bonds

polar or nonpolar covalent, ionic, hydrogen

covalent bonds hold two atoms together by

sharing two or more electrons

non polar covalent

equal sharing of electrons

polar covalent

unequal sharing of electrons

ionic bond

attraction between cation(+) and anion(-). electron donated to nonmetal atom

hydrogen bonds

attractions between two polar molecules

polar molecule

one end is slightly positive and one end is slightly negative

water molecules have

* 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen bonds
* electrons shared through polar covalent bonds between atoms
* oxygen atom has more protons so attracts the shared electron more

multiple water molecules

partial positives on the hydrogen bonds of one water molecule are attracted to partially negative oxygen atom of DIFFERENT water molecule → forms a hydrogen bond

water can have up to

4 H bonds