Water and Living Organisms

Learning Management System
Subject Name
Biological Molecules
Topic
Water and Living Organisms
Week
1.
Chapter Overview
2.
The importance of Water and living organisms
Learning Objectives
Know the importance of water in living organims

Carry out laboratory work to identify the biological molecules
3.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this topic students should be able to:
Describe the importance of water for living organisms
Sate the properties of water which makes it importanf for life
Life Depends on Water

A. Water Is Liquid Due to Hydrogen Bonding
1. Water is a polar molecule because of a slightly negative charge at the oxygen end
and a slightly positive charge at the hydrogen end.
2. Water molecules can form hydrogen bonds with each other.
3. Polar substances are hydrophilic (water loving); nonpolar ones are hydrophobic
(water dreading) and are repelled by water.
B. Water Can Absorb and Hold Heat
1. Water tends to stabilize temperature because it has a high heat capacity the
ability to absorb considerable heat before its temperature changes.
2. This is an important property in evaporative and freezing processes.
C. Water Is the Biological Solvent
Last update: 16 December 2010

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Page 1 of 4
1. The solvent properties of water are greatest with respect to polar molecules
because spheres of hydration are formed around the solute (dissolved)
molecules.
2. For example, the Na+ of salt attracts the negative end of water molecules while
the Cl- attracts the positive end.
D. Properties of Water
PROPERTY
COMPARISON WITH
OTHER SUBSTANCES
IMPORTANCE IN THE
OCEAN
Heat capacity & thermal

conductivity
Highest of all liquids and solids Prevents extreme temperature

except liquid ammonia
ranges encourages heat transfer
Latent heat of fusion
Highest of all except ammonia
Acts as a thermostat at freezing

point
Latent heat of vaporization
Highest of all substances
Important in heat and water

transfers to the atmosphere
Thermal expansion
maximum density is 4o C. for

pure water, lower with
increasing salinity
Allows fresher water near

freezing to rise to surface, ice
floats
Surface tension
Highest of all liquids except

mercury
Controls drop formation &

behavior, cause of capillary
waves
Dissolving power
Dissolves more substances in

greater quantities than any
other liquid
Makes nutrients of all kinds

available to organisms
Transparency
Relatively great
Most transparent in visible

range, thus allows underwater
photosynthesis
Freezing & boiling point
Much higher than similar

substances
Allows most water to exist as a

liquid
Related notes on water:

Most water molecules are free, not locked in clusters.
Clusters are very short lived (less than one-millionth
of a microsecond).
Water is less structured at higher temperatures.
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At pressures over 1000 atmospheres all structure is lost,

because structured regions are less dense.
No structure is present in water vapor.
Temperature effects on water

Adding heat to water raises its temperature within its
current state.
Adding heat to water existing at a state change boundary
results in no temperature change, only the breaking of hydrogen
bonds.
1.1.
Other Properties of Water
Salinity
Defined as the amount of salt in the water.
Expressed as parts per thousand, written .
Average salinity is 35 %.
Measured using electrical conductivity.
Vapor pressure decreased by increased salinity.
Increased salinity increases osmotic pressure.
Viscosity
Defined as the resistance of a liquid to flow.
Especially important to very small organisms near the surface.
Viscosity increases with greater salinity and viscosity
decreases with higher temperature.
Different ions have different effects on viscosity.
Density
Defined as mass per unit volume.
Increasing salinity and/or pressure increases density.
Increasing temperature decreases density.
KEY TERMS
KEY TERMS
1. Latent heat of fusion
2. Latent heat of vaporization
3. Surface tension
4. Viscosity
5. Density
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REFERENCES
Cell and Molecular Biology Concepts and Experiments by Gerald Karp 2005, 3rd Ed.,
John Wiley & Sons,Inc.
Human Biology by Cecie Starr & Bevery McMillan 2007, 7th Ed., Thomson
Brooks/Cole
Human Biology by Sylvia S. Mader 2004, 8th Ed., McGraw Hill

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