{"id":5488,"date":"2020-10-13T09:41:42","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T04:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/astan.lk\/al_virtualclassroom\/?p=5488"},"modified":"2020-10-13T09:42:01","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T04:12:01","slug":"importance-of-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/astan.lk\/al_virtualclassroom\/importance-of-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Importance of water"},"content":{"rendered":"

Physical and chemical properties of water important for life<\/strong><\/p>\n

Water is a vital inorganic molecule<\/p>\n

Life could not exist on this planet without water. It is important due to following two reasons<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Vital chemical constituent of living cell<\/li>\n
  2. Provides a better habitat for aquatic organisms<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Physical and chemical properties of water molecule provide the ability to render its vitality.<\/p>\n

    Water molecule is a small, bipolar and angular molecule (104.5\u00b0)<\/p>\n

    Polarity is an uneven charge distribution within a molecule. Hence in water molecule one pole is slightly positive and the other end is slightly negative. This condition is known as dipole. Due to this dipolarity water molecules have weak attraction for each other. This weak attractions are known as hydrogen bonds.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Main functions of water<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Component of protoplasm<\/li>\n
    2. Solvent<\/li>\n
    3. Reactant<\/li>\n
    4. Maintain turgidity<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Other functions of water<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Fertilization<\/li>\n
      2. Support \/ habitat<\/li>\n
      3. Transportation<\/li>\n
      4. Osmotic balance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Property<\/strong><\/td>\nRole<\/strong><\/td>\nExample<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Liquid at room temperature<\/td>\nMedium of protoplasm<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Major component in protoplasm is H2O<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Polarity<\/td>\nPowerful solvent<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most of the materials of a cell are dissolved in protoplasm & cell sap<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Metabolic reactions take place in an aqueous medium in a cell<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        Chemical property<\/td>\nReactant in some biochemical processes<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Photosynthesis<\/p>\n

        6CO2<\/sub>+6H2<\/sub>O \u2192<\/strong>\u00a0C6<\/sub>H12<\/sub>O6<\/sub> + 6O2<\/sub><\/strong><\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hydrolysis<\/p>\n

        Starch + H2<\/sub>O \u2192<\/strong>\u00a0Maltose<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        High adhesive and cohesive forces.<\/td>\nMaintenance of turgor in cells<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cell enlargement<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0 mechanical support in herbaceous plants<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Turgor movements<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Movement of guard cells<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Blooming of flowers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        Transport and absorption of materials in organisms<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Translocation and ascent of sap<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Absorption of water and minerals from soil solution.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        High surface tension<\/td>\nProvides habitats for some aquatic insects<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Water skaters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        High specific heat capacity<\/td>\nWater resists to change its temperature when a considerable amount of heat is absorbed or lost<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maintain the body temperature of poikilotherms within a narrow range<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        High latent heat of vaporization<\/td>\nCooling the body surfaces<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sweating<\/p>\n

        \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Transpiration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

        High latent heat of fusion<\/td>\nA lot of heat should be dissipated for water bodies to freeze<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Water will not freeze easily within the cells and in water bodies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Anomalous expansion of volume on freezing<\/td>\nWater bodies will not freeze solid. Ice forms on top and liquid water remains at the bottom<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aquatic organisms are capable of surviving during winter.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Transparency<\/td>\nAllowing penetration of light<\/td>\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Allows to grow aquatic plants and algae in a considerable depth in\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 water bodies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

        Importance of water for life<\/strong><\/p>\n