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Chapter 3: Problem 11

Level \(3 :\) Synthesis/Evaluation WRITE ABOUT A THEME: ORGANIZATION Several emergent properties of water contribute to the suitability of the environment for life. In a short essay \((100-150\) words), describe how the ability of water to function as a versatile solvent arises from the structure of water molecules.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Water's polarity and hydrogen bonding make it a versatile solvent, essential for life processes by dissolving various substances.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Structure of Water Molecules

Water molecules consist of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom. The electronegativity difference between hydrogen and oxygen creates a polar molecule, where the oxygen atom has a partial negative charge (未-) and the hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges (未+).
02

Recognize Hydrogen Bonding

Because of the polarity of water molecules, they can form hydrogen bonds with each other and with other polar molecules. These bonds are weak individually but strong in numbers, creating a cohesive structure.
03

Describe Water as a Versatile Solvent

Water's polarity allows it to dissolve many different substances. When ionic compounds or other polar molecules are mixed with water, the positive part of water molecules surrounds the negative ions or the negative part of the solute, and vice versa. This interaction helps to break down the solute and evenly disperse it in a solution.
04

Provide Examples of Solvent Properties in Nature

Water dissolves essential nutrients and minerals in biological systems, facilitating chemical reactions crucial for life. For example, it dissolves salts and sugars, transporting them to cells.
05

Summarize the Emergent Properties

Through its structure and ability to form hydrogen bonds, water acts as a versatile solvent. This property is critical for sustaining life, supporting metabolic processes, and maintaining homeostasis in organisms and ecosystems.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

structure of water molecules
Water molecules have a unique structure. They consist of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. The type of bond here is covalent, meaning the atoms share electrons. However, the sharing is not equal because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen. This means oxygen pulls the electrons more closely towards itself. As a result, the water molecule has a partial negative charge near the oxygen and a partial positive charge near the hydrogens. This makes water a polar molecule, which is key to many of its special properties.
hydrogen bonding
The polarity of water molecules allows them to form hydrogen bonds with each other. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds - two through its hydrogen atoms and two through its oxygen atom. These bonds are individually weak but collectively strong, giving water a cohesive and structured form. This is why water has a high surface tension and why it can move up plants through capillary action. It also explains why ice floats: the hydrogen bonds create a lattice structure in solid form, making ice less dense than liquid water.
water as a solvent
Water's polarity makes it an excellent solvent, earning it the title 'universal solvent.' When ionic or polar substances are added to water, the water molecules surround the ions or polar molecules. The negatively charged part of a water molecule (oxygen) will surround positive ions, while the positively charged parts (hydrogens) will surround negative ions. This interaction helps to separate, or dissolve, the solute into the water, creating a uniform solution. This ability is crucial in biological systems where water dissolves and transports essential nutrients, gases, and waste products.
emergent properties of water
The unique properties of water emerge from its structure and hydrogen bonding ability. These emergent properties include:
  • High heat capacity: Water can absorb a lot of heat before changing temperature, helping to regulate climate and body temperature.
  • High heat of vaporization: Water requires a lot of energy to evaporate, cooling organisms through sweating and transpiration.
  • Cohesion and adhesion: Water molecules stick together (cohesion) and to other surfaces (adhesion), crucial for plant water transport.
  • Ice floats: The solid form of water is less dense than the liquid form, providing an insulating layer in aquatic environments during winter.
These properties significantly contribute to the suitability of water as a medium for life on Earth.
importance of water in biological systems
Water is essential for life. It serves as a solvent, dissolving vital substances like salts, sugars, and proteins, enabling them to participate in biochemical reactions. Water also facilitates nutrient transport and waste removal in organisms. It is a medium where metabolic processes occur and helps maintain homeostasis by regulating temperature and pH levels. On a larger scale, water's ability to support diverse ecosystems, from oceans to rivers to freshwater lakes, shows its essential role in sustaining life on the planet. Without water's unique properties, life as we know it would not exist.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Level \(3 :\) Synthesis/Evaluation In agricultural areas, farmers pay close attention to the weather forecast. Right before a predicted overnight freeze, farmers spray water on crops to protect the plants. Use the properties of water to explain how this method works. Be sure to mention why hydrogen bonds are responsible for this phenomenon.

Level \(1 :\) Knowledge/Comprehension We can be sure that a mole of table sugar and a mole of vitamin C are equal in their $$\begin{array}{ll}{\text { (A) mass. }} & {\text { (B) volume. }} \\ {\text { (C) number of atoms. }} & {\text { (D) number of molecules. }}\end{array}$$

Level \(3 :\) Synthesis/Evaluation SYNTHESIZE YOUR KNOWLEDGE How do cats drink? Scientists using highspeed video have shown that cats use an interesting technique to drink aqueous substances like water and milk. Four times a and milk. Four times a second, the cat touches the tip of its tongue to the water and draws a column of water up into its mouth (as you can see in the photo), which the shuts before gravity can pull the water back down. Describe how the properties of water allow cats to drink in this fashion, including how water's molecular structure contributes to the process.

Level \(3 :\) Synthesis/Evaluation EVOLUTION CONNECTION This chapter explains how the emergent properties of water contribute to the suitability of the environment for life. Until fairly recently, scientists assumed that other physical requirements for life included a moderate range of temperature, pH, atmospheric pressure, and salinity, as well as low levels of toxic chemicals. That view has changed with the discovery of organisms known as extremophiles, which have been found flourishing in hot, acidic sulfur springs, around hydrothermal vents deep in the ocean, and in soils with high levels of toxic metals. Why would astrobiologists be interested in studying extremophiles? What does the existence of life in such extreme environments say about the possibility of life on other planets?

Level \(1 :\) Knowledge/Comprehension Which of the following is a hydrophobic material? $$\begin{array}{ll}{\text { (A) paper }} & {\text { (B) table salt }} \\\ {\text { (C) } \operatorname{wax}} & {\text { (D) sugar }}\end{array}$$
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