Name 5 unusual properties of water and simply explain their importance to the biological environment.

Answered: Name 5 unusual properties of water and…

Biochemistry

9th Edition

ISBN:9781319114671

Author:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.

Publisher:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.

Chapter1: Biochemistry: An Evolving Science

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1P

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Question

Name 5 unusual properties of water and simply explain their importance to the biological environment.

Expert Solution

Step 1

60-75% of human body weight comprises of water. Even 4% loss of total body water will cause dehydration and 15% loss can be deadly.

A molecule of water is composed of one negatively charged oxygen atom bonded with two different positively charged hydrogen atom and it is bent in structure. The bending is due to oxygen carrying two lone pairs of electrons. Due to higher electronegativity of oxygen atom the bond formed with hydrogen are polar. Oxygen acquires a partial negative charge because it attracts the shared electrons to a significantly greater extent giving hydrogen atom a partial positive charge.

Step 2

5 unusual properties of water:

Boiling point (BP) and Freezing point(FP)- In the periodic table it can be seen that the boiling point of hydrides decreases with decreasing size. Hydride of telluride has boiling point of -4 degree celsius. Moving up, hydride of selenide has a BP of -42 degree celsius. More up hydride of sulfide has a BP of -62 degree celsius. Next is water but despite having a small molecular weight it's BP is incredibly higher that is 100 degree celsius because it requires more energy to break hydrogen bond. Same concept is for freezing point also.

COMPOUND	BOILING POINT	FREEZING POINT
Hydrogen Telluride	-4°C	-49°C
Hydrogen Selenide	-42°C	-64°C
Hydrogen Sulfide	-62°C	-84°C
Water	100°C	0 °C

Surface tension- Aside from mercury, surface tension of water is highest for all liquids. It is due to hydrogen bonding in water molecules.
Vapor Pressure(VP) and heat of vaporization- Vapor pressure decreases with increasing intermolecular forces. Water has low vapor pressure due to strong intermolecular attraction but it is even lower as compared to larger molecule with low VP. Water has exceptionally high heat of vaporization.