CHAPTER 1: MOLECULES OF LIFE 1.1 WATER 1.2 CARBOHYDRATES 1.3 LIPIDS 1.4 PROTEINS 1.

5 NUCLEIC ACIDS

1.1 WATER
OBJECTIVES Explain the structure of water molecule. Describe the properties of water and its importance.

INTRODUCTION ROLES OF WATER

medium for enzymatic reactions solvent for polar molecules medium for exchange of
respiratory gases

INTRODUCTION ROLES OF WATER

external media for aquatic

organisms

locomotion secrete waste products

food resources

external fertilization

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

wide V-shaped structure

one oxygen atom two hydrogen atoms covalent bonds

bond angle: 104.5

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

bipolar molecule
opposite ends of water
molecule have opposite charges oxygen: partial negative charge;

hydrogen:

partial positive charge;

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

formation of hydrogen bond

hydrogen atoms of one water molecule attracted to 1 oxygen atoms of nearby water molecules by hydrogen 2 bonds

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

hydrogen bond
hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds but strong enough to hold water molecules together each molecule will form hydrogen bond to a maximum of four water molecules

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE 4

 As universal solvent Has low viscosity Has high specific heat

capacity

PROPERTIES OF WATER

Has high latent heat of

vaporization

Has high surface tension Has maximum density at 4C

AS UNIVERSAL SOLVENT

due to its polarity: water as

universal solvent for polar molecules e.g. Na+ Cl

oxygen regions are attracted to

positively charged sodium

hydrogen regions are attracted

to negatively charged chloride

 surround
sodium and chloride

separate
and avoid them from each other

AS UNIVERSAL SOLVENT BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

solvent for most solutes provides an aqueous medium

for biochemical reactions

serves as the bodys major

transport medium e.g. in blood capillaries and xylem

HAS LOW VISCOSITY

due to hydrogen bonds between

water molecules continuously form, break and reform

HAS LOW VISCOSITY BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

as lubricant
i.e. lubricates peristaltic movement of food bolus in esophagus

water molecules can moves

easily and flow with less friction through narrow blood vessels

HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY DEFINITION

large amount of heat energy (in J

@ cal)

that must be absorbed @ lost for

1g of substance (water molecule)

to change its temperature by 1C

specific heat capacity for water
= 4200 J kg-1 C-1

HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

a lot of energy is required to raise

or cool down the temperature of water

the energy is required to break all

hydrogen bonds between water molecules

HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

stabilize ocean temperature

provide constant environment

in the sea for aquatic organisms to live act as heat buffer prevent large fluctuation in body temperature of terrestrial organisms

HIGH LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

DEFINITION

large amount of heat energy must to turn liquid water into water vapour
latent heat of vaporization for water
be absorbed by 1g of water molecule

hydrogen bond between water

molecules make it difficult for them to be separated and vaporized

= 540 cal g-1

HIGH LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

evaporation of water in sweat on skin, or in transpiration from green leaves or panting in animals e.g. dog
causes the cooling effect because the escaping molecules
take a lot of energy with them

COHESIVE AND ADHESIVE FORCE

cohesive force: force of attraction

between the same molecule

e.g. between water molecules

adhesive force: force of attraction

between water molecule with the other molecule

e.g. between water molecules

and wall of xylem vessels

HIGH SURFACE TENSION

cohesive forces between water arrangement of water molecules

on the surface bonded by hydrogen bond with water molecules underneath form a skin like layer at the surface molecules are responsible for the phenomenon known as surface tension

HIGH SURFACE TENSION BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

surface tension allows insects to walk

on the water surface e.g. water skater

HIGH SURFACE TENSION

upward movement of water from roots

through xylem vessels

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

adhesion and cohesion creates

capillary action as water evaporates from leaves, cohesion of water within xylem vessel drawn upwards from roots adhesion of water to wall of xylem vessel resist the downward pull of gravity

HIGH SURFACE TENSION BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

MAXIMUM DENSITY AT 4C

at 0C, liquid water transforms into ice

(solid form)

ice is less dense than liquid water at

4C

MAXIMUM DENSITY AT 4C BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

ice floats; act as insulator to prevent ponds, lakes, oceans

from freezing

thus, allow life to exist under

the floating ice

MAXIMUM DENSITY AT 4C BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

QUESTION Give TWO significances of hydrogen bonding in water molecules

Answer : refer to properties of water