Many of the solutes in an organism can be dissolved because water is polar = a solvent
Cytosol is made up of mainly water
Efficient Transport Medium
Adhesion & cohesion = capillary action (water rising up a narrow tube against the force of gravity
Coolant
Heat energy isn't escaping into surrounding because it's being absorbed which allows a constant temp. meaning enzymes (which work in a narrow temp. range) can work efficiently still
Stable
Ice floats - forms an insulating layer - aquatic creatures couldn't survive in freezing temperatures
Surface tension
strong enough to support small insects such as pond skaters
Transparent
allows light through so plants can still get light and photosynthesise
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Characteristics
High Boiling point
Due to hydrogen bonds
Requires a lot of energy to increase temp. of water due to the bonds absorbing the energy
Ice is less Dense
Because of hydrogen bonds
They fix the positions of the polar molecules slightly further parat
The hydrogen bonds form it into a lattice where every oxygen is at the centre of a tetrahedral arrangement
Cohesive
Attracted to each other which creates usrface tension
Adhesive
Attracted to other material
Polar
Uneven distrbution of electrons on the covalent bond
slight charges on oxygen and hydrogen causes electrostatic attraction
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