• The ability of water to absorb heat enables water to absorb heat produced by the metabolic activities of the cells. As blood is moved from the region of heat production (e.g. the liver and muscle tissues), heat is removed.
• The ability to absorb heat before showing a change in temperature also means that much energy will be needed to convert liquid water into water vapour. Evaporation of sweat is thus a major means of removing heat from the body surface and thus reducing body temperature.
• The unique decrease in density of water as it becomes ice results in ice floating over slightly warmer water. This not only helps insulate the water from further loss of heat, but also ensures the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms in winter.
• Being such a good solvent, water forms a large part of the cytoplasm of the cell, tissue fluid as well as the transporting medium in blood, excretory system, alimentary canal, xylem, phloem.
This means that water:
- must be present whenever biochemical reactions in the cell take place;
- must be present for oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse into and out of the body;
- is an important part of the digestive juices;
- is an important solvent for metabolic wastes such as urea.
- In plants, water is also important because it helps the plant cells maintain turgor pressure and keep their shape. It is also an essential part of the process of photosynthesis.
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