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Ap Bio Water Research Paper

Decent Essays

Water

Water is a medium for metabolic reactions and an important constituent of cells. In most plants and animals, it makes up about 65-95% of their mass. The water molecule is referred to as a dipole, a polar molecule, with a positive (hydrogen) and negative (oxygen) charge, separated by a very small distance. A molecule with a separated charge is polar. A hydrogen bond; the weak attractive force between a hydrogen atom with a partial positive (o+) charge and an atom with a partial negative charge (o-) oxygen can be formed between two atoms. Hydrogen bonds are weak, however in large quantities, like the large number present in water it makes the molecules difficult to separate and gives water a wide range of physical properties vital to life. …show more content…

As water molecules are dipoles, they attract/are attracted to ions in solution and therefore the water molecules cluster around the ions and separate them, thus dissolving the substance. It also dissolves other polar molecules as it can interact with the charged regions. These then dissolve in water so chemical reactions can take place. This property and being liquid over a wide range of temperatures, makes water ideal for acting as a medium where these metabolic reactions can occur. Water also acts as a transport medium for example in animals, plasma transports dissolved substances and in plants, water transports minerals in the xylem, and sucrose and amino acids in the phloem. Non-polar molecules such as lipids do not dissolve in …show more content…

This is known as an α-1,4-glycosidic bond.
Condensation reaction

Formation of a glycosidic bond between two glucose molecules, making maltose

Hydrolysis reaction

Hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond in maltose

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are large complex polymers; a large molecule comprising repeated units, monomers bonded together by glycosidic bonds.
Glucose is the main source of energy in cells. It is soluble in water meaning it would increase the concentration of a cell contents and draw water in by osmosis. It is therefore converted into a storage product, starch, which;
• Is insoluble so has no osmotic affect.
• Cannot diffuse of the cell.
• Is a compact molecule and can be stored in a small area.
• Carries a lot of energy in its C-H and C-C bonds.
Starch

Starch is the main dtore of glucose for

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