BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

water
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Candidates should be able to:
(a) describe the chemical properties (solvent, bond
angles and hydrogen bond) of water and relate its
physiological roles in the organisms;
(b) describe the physical properties (polarity,
cohesiveness, density, surface tension, specific heat
capacity, and latent heat of vaporisation) of water and
relate its physiological roles in organisms.
 WATER
 Makes up about 60 -95% of the fresh mass of an
organisms
 Important component of cells, as a solvent and is often a
reactant in metabolism and provides an aqueous
environment for many organisms.
 Properties of water molecule are due mostly to its ability
to form hydrogen bonds, its polarity and its small size.
 Water is a dipolar molecule. There is uneven charge
distribution within the molecules. The oxygen atom has a
slight negative charge (-) and the hydrogen atom has a
slightly positive charge (+)
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES :Structure of
water molecules

Two hydrogen atoms are attached to an oxygen atom at an angle of

104.45 ̊. Each hydrogen atom shares a pair of electrons with the oxygen so
there are two covalent bonds
Campbell 3rd pg 402

Water is polar dipolar molecule. There is an

uneven charge distribution within the
molecule. The oxygen atom has a slight
negative charge and the hydrogen has a
slight positive charge.
Hydrogen bonds are formed between the negatively
charged oxygen atom and the positively charged
atoms of other molecules in their liquid state, the
hydrogen bond break and re-form with great
frequency.
 The positive and negative regions of the water molecules is the
oppositely charged regions of other molecules. A water
molecule can form four hydrogen bond with other water
molecules.
 The chemicals that dissolve in water are free to move about and
react with other molecules. Most biological reactants take place
in an aqueous medium.
 Polar substances that can dissolve in water are hydrophilic. Non-
polar substances such as lipids and hydrocarbon that do not
interact with water are hydrophobic.
 Water is a universal solvent and chemical reactions occur in
solution. The polarity of water makes it a suitable solvent for
ions and other polar molecules displacing their attraction to each
other
Examples of molecules in our body.
Water molecules and sodium chloride
Longman vol 1,pg 3
Water is liquid at room temperature. Each molecule of
water can form hydrogen bonds with different
molecules of water.
Under room temperature 0 ̊C, its freeze where all the
molecules are involved in forming the three dimensional
structure of ice
This explains why ice expands and has a lower density
and float on water.
The movement of water molecules slows down and the
molecules are further apart
The water molecules are now arranged in a regular,
hexagonal crystalline lattice network.
Each water molecule can form a maximum number of
four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules
Campbell 3rd pg 402
The physiological roles of water
Water provides a medium for reactions to take place. Example the
seed need water to germinate. The enzyme and substrate
molecules in the cytoplasm of cells within the seeds are activated
and will start reacting with each other to bring about faster
respiration and to start cell divisons.
Water acts as a solvent to transport substances in the blood of
animal or in xylem and phloem of plants.
Water ionies and acts as substrates for photolysis during
photosynthesis and hydrolysis reactions during digestion of food
Water interacts with macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic
acids and molecules in the lipoprotein membrane structure. The
water molecules surround these macromolecules, making their
structures more stable to perform their functions.
Properties of water
 Physical WATER PROPERTIES AND
THEIR IMPORTANCE
 Viscosity .
 Exhibits high surface tension and cohesion
 Has high specific heat capacity. (4.2 kj/kJ/kg/K
 Has high latent heat of vaporisation (2260kJ/kg)
 Has high latent heat of fusion. (340kj/kg
 Density of water decreases when below 4oC (unique property
of water) very important to sustain life especially during
winter season.
VISCOSITY
 The ability of water to flow is called viscosity.
 Water has a relatively low viscosity. This is
because hydrogen bonds between water
molecules being continually broken and re-
formed.
 The water molecules can slide easily over each
other and flow with less friction through narrow
vessels. Blood vessels and watery solutions for
example can as a lubricants to allow food to
move easily down the alimentary canal.
 COHESION AND SURFACE
TENSION
 Water molecules being polar, readily form hydrogen
bonds with other water molecules. They tend to stick
together. This phenomenon is called cohesion.
 As water molecules evaporates from leaves, the
unbroken columns of water held by cohesive forces
within the xylem vessels are drawn upward to the tops
of the tall trees.
 Adhesion of water to the xylem wall resists the
downward pull of gravity.
Fajar Bakti vol.1 pg.24
 At the surface of ponds, the water molecules are
hydrogen bonded to one another and with
other water molecules below the surface but
not with air molecules above. The unequal
distribution of hydrogen bonds results in
Water strider / water inwardly cohesive forces which produces high
scraper surface tension at the surface of water.

Tensile strength is related to

cohesion and is a measure of
the resistance of molecules to
being pulled apart. This
phenomena is responsible for
"surface tension" that you see
below. The water strider can
"walk on water" because its feet
don’t push hard enough to
force the water molecules apart
As air-water interface, for example, surface
of ponds, the inwardly cohesive forces
produce high surface tension at the surface
of water. This allows small organisms like
the pond skater (water scraper), to move
over its surface without any problem.
 Examples of adhesion phenomenon

This daisy is under the water

level, which has risen gently
and smoothly. Surface tension
prevents the water from
Dew drops adhering to a spider web. submerging the flower
Example of adhesion
 THERMAL PROPERTIES
Water has a high heat capacity
1. A large amount of heat energy is required to raise the
temperature of water.
2. Large bodies of water such as oceans, seas and lakes
have a thermally stable environment for aquatic
organisms.
3. Water also acts as a thermal buffer and prevents large
fluctuation in body temperature of terrestrial organisms.
A constant body temperature enables the enzymes to
function and prevent denaturation of biological
molecules.
4) A great deal of energy is required to break of many
hydrogen bonds in liquid water and convert liquid
into gas.
5) The evaporation of sweat uses a lot of heat energy.
This energy called the latent heat of
vaporisation . During sweating,a lot of heat must
be absorbed from the body to evaporate the water
thus having a cooling effect to the skin or body.
6) The high heat of fusion ensures that cell contents
and aquatic habitats do not freeze quickly in cold
water. A large amount of heat has to be removed
before freezing can occur.
 Specific Heat Capacity
(4.2 Jg-1oC-1)

 means 4.2J of heat is required to raise the temperature

by 1 ̊C for 1g of water
 Water has a high Latent Heat

Latent Heat of vaporisation 2260kJ/kg ,means 2260kJ of heat is



required to vaporize 1kg of water

 Latent Heat of Fusion 340kJ/kg, means 340kJ of heat is required to

freeze 1kg of water.
(a) prevents aquatic enviornment freezing during
cold weather.
(b) prevents cells from freezing during cold
weather.
 Density

Maximum density of water at 4˚C
 Convection of a mass of water ( a pond ) ensures
that the entire pond does not freeze.
 An ice which has arrangement of water molecules
further apart resulting in a less dense structure
enables it to float on water.
Campbell 3rd pg 402
 Some biologically functions of water
Functions Examples
1. Structure •Important component of protoplasm (60% - 95%)
2. Solvent and •Solvents for solutes, provides an aqueous medium for biochemical
hydrolysis reactions.
•Hydrolyses polysaccharides and monosaccharides, proteins into amino
acid, fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

3. Metabolites •Water is required for photosynthesis

4. Medium for •Enable diffusion of nutrients access membranes such as alveolus.
diffusion
5. Transport of •Blood plasma transports foods, gases, hormones, salts antibodies and
medium wastes.
6. Supports •Hydroskeletons in earthworm. Turgid cells give support to herbaceous
plants.
•Aqueous and vitreous humours give shape and support to the eyeball
•Amniotic fluid support and protect the foetus in the amniotic sac.
 Functions Examples

7. Lubricants and •Mucus in alimentary canal

secretions •Synovial fluid in joints
•Needed to form digestive juices, lachrymal fluid
(tears), sweat and nectar

8. Habitat Provides an aquatic environment and support to whales,

fishes and other aquatic organisms

9. Medium for •Medium for swimming gametes, larval stages, dispersal

movement, of fruits and seeds
dispersal and •Water is needed to break the pericarp of some fruits and
migration their testa for germination
TASK : 26th July 2021
A. THREE set of objectives questions are given
You have to complete and answer the questions by
yourself
Submit the answers set before 10.30am
Just write the answers on the test pad example
Set 1 – 1.A 2. C 3 D……..
SET 2………..
SET 3……………
AND just snap and pm through my telegram
B HOMEWORK
Notes on the learning outcomes in the testpad