CHAPTER 1:

MOLECULES OF LIFE
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5

WATER
CARBOHYDRATES
LIPIDS
PROTEINS
NUCLEIC ACIDS

1.1 WATER
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Explain the structure of water molecule
Describe the properties of water and its
importance

ROLES OF WATER

medium for enzymatic reactions

solvent for polar molecules
medium for exchange of
respiratory gases

external media for aquatic

organisms (in locomotion,

secretion of waste products
for food resources, external
fertilization)

STRUCTURE OF ONE WATER

MOLECULE

wide V-shaped structure :

1 oxygen atom
2 hydrogen atoms

covalent bonds
bond angle: 104.5

STRUCTURE OF ONE WATER

MOLECULE

Schematic Diagram
Showing Covalent Bond
Within a Water Molecule
Covalent
bond

STRUCTURE OF ONE WATER

MOLECULE
Polar molecule

opposite ends of water molecule

have opposite charges
oxygen: partial negative charge;
hydrogen: partial positive charge; +

Formation of Hydrogen
Bond
Polarity allows water molecules to form
hydrogen bonds between each other

Hydrogen atoms (H) of one water

molecule is attracted to oxygen

atoms (O) of other water molecule by
hydrogen bonds

ONE water molecule will form hydrogen

bond to a maximum of FOUR water
molecules

Schematic Diagram Showing Hydrogen

Bonds
Between Water Molecules

2
3

Schematic Diagram Showing Hydrogen

Bonds
Between Water Molecules

Hydrogen Bond
Hydrogen bonds are
weaker than covalent
bonds but, strong
enough to hold water
molecules together

PROPERTIES OF WATER
1. Is Polar molecule
2. Has low viscosity

3. Has high specific heat capaci

4. Has high latent heat of
vaporization
5. Has high surface tension
6. Has maximum density at 4C

1. IS POLAR MOLECULE
Due to its polarity, water act as
universal solvent

It can dissolve ionic and polar

molecules e.g. sodium chloride (NaCl)

oxygen atoms (O) are attracted to

positively charged sodium ion (Na+)

hydrogen atoms are attracted

to negatively charged chloride ion
(Cl-)

Water molecule surround sodium

and chloride ions,
separate and avoid them from each
other.

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF
WATER IS POLAR MOLECULE

Universal solvent for most solutes

Provides an aqueous medium
for biochemical reactions
(i.e. enzymatic reactions)

Major transport medium in living

organisms (e.g. in blood capillaries

of human and in xylem of plants)

2. HAS LOW VISCOSITY

Hydrogen bonds between water

molecules is continuously form, break

and reform

Results in, water

molecules can flow

easily with less friction
(for e.g. through
narrow blood vessel)

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF
WATER HAS LOW VISCOSITY
As lubricant to lubricates movement of
substances (e.g. peristaltic movement
of food bolus in esophagus)
As lubricant to lubricates joints in
vertebrates

3. HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

Definition of high specific heat
capacity :
Large @ high amount of heat energy
that must be absorbed or released
for 1 gram of water molecules
to change its temperature by 1C
Specific heat capacity for water
= 1 cal/gC @ 4.2 J/gC-1
Biology Campbell 9th ed. (page 94)

3. HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT CAPACITY

Large amount of heat energy is absorbed

to break ALL hydrogen bonds between

water molecules in order to increase the
temperature of water molecules

Large amount of heat energy is released

to form hydrogen bonds between

water molecules in order to decrease the
temperature of water molecules

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF
WATER HAS HIGH SPECIFIC HEAT
CAPACITY

Can stabilize the ocean temperature

thus, enable aquatic organisms to
survive

Act as heat buffer thus,

prevent large
fluctuation in body
temperature of
terrestrial organisms

4. HIGH LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

Definition of high latent heat of
vaporization :
Large @ high amount of heat energy
that must be absorbed for 1 gram of
water molecule to change from
liquid water into water vapour
Latent heat of vaporization for water
= 580 cal/g
Biology Campbell 9th ed. (page 95)

4. HIGH LATENT HEAT OF VAPORIZATION

Large amount of heat energy is absorbed

to break ALL hydrogen bonds between
water molecules in order to change
liquid water into water vapour

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF
WATER HAS HIGH LATENT HEAT OF
VAPORIZATION

Give the cooling effects during :

evaporation of sweat on skin of human

transpiration from leaves of plants

or panting in animals
e.g. dog

COHESIVE AND ADHESIVE FORCE

Definition of cohesive force:

Force of attraction between the

same molecules
e.g. between water molecules

Definition of adhesive force:

Force of attraction between

different molecules
e.g. between water molecules
and wall of xylem vessels

5. HIGH SURFACE TENSION

Definition of high surface tension :
Is a measure of how hard it is to break
the surface of a liquid

Surface tension is related to

cohesive forces between water

molecules

5. HIGH SURFACE TENSION

Water molecules on the surface is bonded by
hydrogen bonds with water molecules at the
below to form a skin like layer at the surface
of water

HIGH SURFACE TENSION:

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

Allows insects to walk on the water surface.

e.g. water skater

6. MAXIMUM DENSITY AT 4C

at 0C, liquid water transforms into ice (

ice is less dense than liquid water at 4C

Ice floats in liquid water because hydrog

in ice are more ordered, making ice
less dense

6. HAS MAXIMUM DENSITY AT 4C

BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

As ice floats, it acts as insulator

to prevent ponds, lakes, oceans
from freezing thus, allow aquatic
organisms to survive under the
floating ice.

Test your
knowledge.
How does aquatic life survive in
extremely cold conditions ?

REFERENCE BOOK :
Campbell et. al. (2011). Biology (9th
Ed.), Pearson Benjamin
Cummings.
Page 92-97 (Unit
1: The Chemistry of Life; Chapter
3: Water and Life)