CHAPTER 1: MOLECULES OF LIFE

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 WATER CARBOHYDRATES LIPIDS PROTEINS NUCLEIC ACIDS

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

ROLES OF WATER

medium for enzymatic reactions solvent for polar molecules medium for exchange of external media for aquatic
organisms respiratory gases

locomotion secrete waste product

food resources external fertilization

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

wide V-shaped structure

1 oxygen atom covalent bonds 2 hydrogen atoms

bond angle: 104.5

 polar molecule
opposite ends of water molecule
have opposite charges

oxygen: partial negative charge; hydrogen: partial positive charge; +

Polarity allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with each other

STRUCTURE OF WATER MOLECULE

 Formation of hydrogen bond

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

 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

 Has maximum density at 4C

capacity Has high latent heat of vaporization Has high surface tension

As universal solvent Has low viscosity Has high specific heat

PROPERTIES OF WATER

1. AS UNIVERSAL SOLVENT

due to its polarity: water as

universal solvent for ions and 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

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

2. HAS LOW VISCOSITY

due to hydrogen bonds between

water molecules continuously break and reform

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

3. 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-1C-1

3. HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

a lot of heat energy is required/release

to change the temperature of water

energy is absorbed to break all hydrogen

formed between water molecules (Temp.

bonds between water molecules (Temp.

energy is released as hydrogen bonds are

**Water resists changing its temperature

because of its high specific heat

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

stabilize ocean temperature

provide constant environment

in the sea for aquatic organisms to liv

act as heat buffer

prevent large fluctuation in

body temperature of terrestrial organisms

4. HIGH LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

DEFINITION

large amount of heat energy must

be absorbed by 1g of water molecule to turn liquid water into water vapou = 540 cal g-1

latent heat of vaporization for water

make it difficult for them to be separated and vaporized

hydrogen bond between water molecules

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
take a lot of energy with them,

because the escaping molecule

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

PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE #1

Upward movement of water from roots

through xylem vessels 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

PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE #2 5. HIGH SURFACE TENSION it is to break the surface of a liquid forces between water molecules

Surface tension is a measure of how har

Surface tension is related to cohesive

 arrangement of water molecules

on the surface bonded by hydrogen bond with water molecules underneath form a skin like layer at the surface

n m e s u rfa o n e m o le c u le is o th e a ttra c te d b y a d ja c e b e lo m o le c u le s

o le c u le o c e is a ttr p r m o le c u n t w

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

surface tension allows insects to walk

on the water surface e.g. water skater

6. MAXIMUM DENSITY AT 4C

at 0C, liquid water transforms into ice (solid

ice is less dense than liquid water at 4C Ice floats in liquid water because hydrogen

bonds in ice are more ordered, making ice less dense

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

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

from freezing the floating ice

thus, allow life to exist under

 CONCLUSION
All living organisms require WATER more than any other substance Most cells are surrounded by water, and cells themselves are about 7095% water