Back to notes
What is capillary action and how does it relate to adhesion in plants?
Press to flip
Capillary action is the ability of water to move through narrow spaces due to adhesion, allowing water to travel against gravity within plant vascular tissues.
How do aquatic mammals like seals utilize water's thermal properties for survival?
Seals use water's thermal properties by having adaptations like blubber and thick fur to manage heat loss and maintain ideal body temperatures in cold waters.
How does cohesion contribute to water movement in plants?
Cohesion allows water molecules to attract and stick to each other, facilitating the rise of water in plants through the xylem by creating tension in a process called transpiration.
Why do hydrophobic substances not dissolve in water?
Hydrophobic substances are nonpolar and do not form bonds with water's polar molecules, leading them to separate rather than dissolve.
Describe how hydrogen bonds form between water molecules.
Hydrogen bonds in water form when the partially positive hydrogen of one water molecule is attracted to the partially negative oxygen of another, creating a network of interactions.
How does surface tension relate to cohesion?
Surface tension is a result of water's cohesive properties, where molecules at the surface are pulled inwards, allowing organisms like water striders to walk on water.
What role does water's high specific heat play in climate regulation?
Water's high specific heat allows oceans and large bodies of water to absorb and retain heat, moderating climate and temperature fluctuations.
What is the molecular composition of water and how does it contribute to its polarity?
Water is composed of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. Its polarity arises from the asymmetrical structure and polar covalent bonds, with the electrons being more attracted to the oxygen due to its higher electronegativity.
Describe how thermal conductivity in water affects living organisms.
Water's efficient thermal conductivity helps dissipate heat, which is crucial for organisms like fennec foxes that use blood vessels to manage body temperature.
What makes water an effective solvent?
Water's polarity and capacity to form hydrogen bonds make it an effective solvent, allowing it to dissolve a wide variety of polar and ionic substances.
Explain how water's adhesion is significant for plant transpiration.
Adhesion occurs when water molecules stick to other surfaces like plant xylem walls, aiding in counteracting gravity as water moves upward through capillary action.
Explain how water viscosity impacts organisms that live in it.
Water's low viscosity allows for smooth flow, but when solutes are added, like in blood plasma, viscosity increases, affecting organism mobility and nutrient transport.
Compare how a black-throated loon and a ringed seal are adapted to their environments.
The loon experiences less thermal loss and energy use in air, while the ringed seal is adapted to water with thick fur for temperature regulation and coping with buoyancy and viscosity.
How does water's buoyancy affect aquatic organisms like algae?
Water's buoyancy affects organisms by influencing whether they float or sink. Algae use trapped oxygen and gas vacuoles to maintain buoyancy for access to sunlight and nutrients.
Define specific heat and its importance in biological systems.
Specific heat is the amount of energy required to change the temperature of a substance. Water's high specific heat stabilizes temperatures in organisms and environments essential for biochemical reactions.
Previous
Next