KMPk Molecules Of Life SB 015

BIOLOGY SCORE
CHAPTER 1 : MOLECULES OF LIFE
SUBTOPIC : 1.1 Water
LEARNING OUTCOME: State the structure and properties of water molecules.
Relate the properties of water and its importance:
• Universal solvent • High latent heat of vaporization
• Low viscosity • High surface tension
• High specific heat capacity • Maximum density at 4°C

MAIN IDEAS
EXPLANATION NOTES
/KEY POINT
▪ Water has a simple molecular structure. It is composed of
one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms.
▪ A hydrogen atoms combined with the oxygen atom by
sharing of electrons.
Water molecules ▪ Each hydrogen atom is convalently bonded to the oxygen via
a shared pair of electrons.(Diagram 1)
Refer Campbell ▪ Oxygen also has two unshared pairs of electrons. Thus,
10th ed. pg 95 / oxygen is an electronegative compared with hydrogen.
Biology diagram (Diagram 2)
pg 3 ▪ The angle between the two covalent bonds is 104.5°
▪ Oppositely charged regions in neighboring water molecules
are attracted to each other by hydrogen bond_ (Diagram 3)

▪ The unequal sharing of electrons and water V-like shape

make it a polar molecule.
Properties of
▪ When contact with H2O, ions (eg :salts) and polar (eg:
water and its
sugar) groups are surrounded by H2O molecules
importance:
▪ Water dissociate the ions & molecules from each other
- universal
Example: Dissolving sodium chloride in water.
solvent due to its
▪ The negative ends of water molecules are attracted to sodium
polarity / polar
ion
molecules
▪ The positive ends of the water molecules are attracted to
chloride ions.
▪ This causes water molecules surround the individual sodium
and chloride ion and form hydration shell.

Properties of ▪ water has low viscosity so its suitable medium of

water and its transportation in living organisms
importance: ▪ in animal, low viscosity of water enable the blood plasm
- low viscosity and lymph to flow easily in the circulatory system.
▪ in plants where water in the xylem and phloem can
move easily
Properties of ▪ Water has high specific heat capacity so large amount of
water and its energy is needed to break down the hydrogen bonds among
importance: water molecules before the water molecules can begin to
- high specific move about more freely and therefore, causing an increase
heat capacity in temperature.

1 | KMPk
KMPk Molecules Of Life SB 015
MAIN IDEAS
EXPLANATION NOTES
/KEY POINT
▪ Water resists changes in temperature and a lot of energy
needed to speed up its molecules.
▪ As a results, organism can maintain stable body temperature

▪ Water has high latent heat of vaporization because of

hydrogen bonding between molecules difficult to be
separated and vaporized
Properties of
▪ When water is heated, it evaporates more rapidly than when
water and its
it is cooled. As a results water, stabilize temperature in
importance:
lakes and ponds provides a mechanism that prevents
- High latent
terrestrial organism from overheating.
heat of
▪ Evaporation of sweat from human skin dissipates body heat
vaporization
and helps prevent overheating on hot day or when excess
heat is generated by strenuous activity

▪ Water has high surface tension due to cohesion. Cohesion is

Properties of the linking together of like molecules by hydrogen bonds.
water and its High surface tension allows insect (eg. water strider) to
importance: walk on a pond without breaking the surface
-high surface ▪ Adhesion is the clinging of one substance to another.
tension ▪ Cohesion and adhesion - contributes to the transport of
water and dissolved nutrients against gravity in plants
Properties of ▪ Water is less dense as a solid (ice) than as a liquid (water).
water and its Ice floats on liquid water. Water molecules expand when
importance: solidify. Floating ice insulate the water below. Preventing it
-Maximum from freezing. Allowing marine life to exist under the
density at 4°C frozen surface.

Water properties Explanation Example of benefit to life

Solubility
Leaves pull water upwards
from root
Evaporation of water cools
Summary
body surface
High specific Hydrogen bonds absorb heat when they
heat break and release heat when they form,
minimizing temperature changes
Lower density of
ice

2 | KMPk
KMPk Molecules Of Life SB 015
BIOLOGY DIAGRAM

Diagram 1 Diagram 2

Diagram 3 Diagram 4

3 | KMPk