Unit 1 Date

IAS BIOLOGY WATER

Oxigen atom negative - Water molecules are charged with the OXYGEN ATOM being NEGATIVE and
Hydrogen positive + HYDROGEN ATOM being POSITIVE. Therefore water molecules have an
imbalance of charge (DIPOLAR). These opposite charges attract each other
and generate HYDROGEN BONDING between them.

Hydrogen bonds

Covalent bonds (when the

atoms share electrons) is
very strong.

FIG.1.2 page 3 Book

PROPERTIES OF WATER
WATER SOLVENT SOLVENT PROPERTIES
Water is a SOLVENT for SOLUTES such as:
SOLUTES: IONS (i.e. SALT)
IONS POLAR MOLECULES (with uneven charge)
POLAR MOLECULES COVALENT SUBSTANCES (i.e. SUGAR)
COVALENT SUBST. AMINO ACIDS,
AMINO ACIDS This is because the water molecules are attracted to them, collect around
them and separate them, so that they dissolve. The molecules of the
Attraction
chemicals (SOLUTE) are then free to move around and REACT with other
Collection
chemicals. This also happens in living organisms.
Separation
Dissolution NON-polar molecules like LIPIDS dont dissolve in water but tend to be
Reaction pushed together. However they have some areas that are soluble in water
called HYDROPHILIC and other areas that are insoluble called
HYDROPHILIC water HYDROPHOBIC.
loving
HYDROPHOBIC water
hating
THERMAL/HEAT PROPERTIES
Water molecules are attracted to one another by HYDROGEN BONDS and
hydrogen bonds in water this restricts the movement of the molecules. This means a large amount
require a lot of energy to of energy is required to increase the temperature of the water.
increase the temperature of Water specific heat capacity 4.2J g C
water. It takes 4.2 joules of energy to heat 1g of water by 1C.
Therefore water doesnt change temperature easily but remain constant in
large bodies of water (i.e. lakes, oceans) and high water content organisms.
Cooling mechanism: VAPORISATION LIQUID into GAS
Sweating Water requires a lot of energy to change state from a liquid into a gas.
Panting Vaporisation is used as a cooling mechanism when sweating and panting in
transpiration animals and during transpiration in green plants.

No ice crystal inside cells
Hydraulic mechanisms
Ice is less dense.
Changes in density and
temperature let nutrients
circulate in oceans.
Hydrogen bonds creates
unbroken columns of water
used in transpiration by
trees.
Water is partly IONISED.
FUSION SOLID into LIQUID
To change the state from solid to liquid water must lose a lot of heat. Which
means it is difficult to freeze water and have ice crystals inside cells.
COMPRESSIBILITY
Water cannot be compressed and its important for hydraulic mechanisms
in the natural world.
DENSITY
Its solid state (ICE) is less dense than its liquid state, so ice floats on water
and insulates the water below it.
These changes in density of water with temperature set up currents in
oceans and let nutrients circulate.
COHESION (link, connection)
Water molecules stick together due to hydrogen bonds. This is why long
unbroken columns of water are sucked up by trees by transpiration
without breaking.
It also creates surface tension which allows pond skaters to walk on water.
IONISATION
When many SALTS dissolve in water they IONISE into POSITIVE and
NEGATIVE IONS.
Water is partly ionised.
PH
HYDROGEN IONS make the solution ACIDIC (max ph14)
HYDROXYL IONS make the solution ALKALINE (min ph1)