The Biological Importance of Water
Water is a simple molecule, yet it is fundamental to life. In active
living cells, two-thirds, or often more, of the area is occupied by
water, and two-thirds of the globe is covered in water. Water is
therefore extremely abundant, and in biological terms it has great
importance both inside cells, and externally, for example as a
habitat. Every chemical reaction in the human body, and any other
living thing require water. We use water to dilute poisonous waste and
excrete as urine (toxins). Humans could survive a month without food
but only a few days without water.
Water can be referred to as the 'universal solvent' as more substances
can be dissolved into it than any other. Often we need substances to
be in a solution for our bodies to use, water makes this possible. For
example plants can only absorb mineral salts in solution and the human
digestion system will only absorb soluble foods, so large starch
molecules (macro-molecules) must be broken down into soluble sugars
like glucose and fructose, in plants. The gas exchange also needs a
moist surface, as reaction takes place in a solution, hence avioli in
lungs are moist and many plants have moist leaves (mesophyll cells)
for gas exchange. The solubility of oxygen in water; which is four
parts of oxygen to every hundred of water, is sufficient for marine
life.
Substances in organisms often need to be transported to other parts,
like organs. In humans our main transport system is our blood. It
supplies our bodies with food, hormones, oxygen, waste and much more.
Plants version of this is their sap. Both these mediums for transport
of n...
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... plants to transpire so the roots
can carry out more active uptake. The high water content of cells
gives them insulation, and protects them from rapid temperature
changes, thus helping to keep cells at a fairly constant optimum
temperature
So although water is the most abundant molecule in cells, whole
organisms and on earth it is the most important to every living
organism. Lack of water causes illness, weakness, poor health and slow
collapse of organs, and none causes death. It is absolutely essential
to any organism in the world and without water there would be nothing,
it is as vital, if not more, than the sun.
Bibliography
Almost everything there is to know-Hunkin
Software Toolworks Multimedia Encyclopaedia
www.darrenh2o/water.htm
letts key stage three classbook, Science. Terry Hudson-1998
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The Biological Importance of Water as a Solvent and as a Medium for Living Organisms
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