BIOL-1010 Water

What percentage of cells is made up of water?

70-95% of cells are made up of H2O.

What is the outstanding chemical property of water?

The ability to form Hydrogen Bonds.

What are the three states in which water exists?

Solid, liquid, and gas.

What is the measure of how hard it is to break the surface of a liquid?

Surface Tension.

Why does water have a high specific heat?

A large amount of energy is required to change the temperature of water.

What helps stabilize internal temperatures in organisms?

Evaporative cooling as water evaporates.

Why is ice less dense than liquid water?

Solid water is less dense than liquid water, allowing ice to float.

How does water affect polar and nonpolar molecules?

Water organizes nonpolar molecules and causes hydrophobic molecules to aggregate.

What is the universal solvent?

Water is the universal solvent.

What does the pH scale measure?

The degree of acidity, ranging from 0 to 14.

What are the ions that water can form?

Hydronium (H^+) and Hydroxide (OH^-).

What is the difference between solute and solvent?

Solvent is the dissolving agent, while solute is the substance that is dissolved.

What is an aqueous solution?

A solution where water is the solvent.

What happens if ice sank?

All bodies of water would eventually freeze solid, making life impossible on Earth.