Biology Water Resistance

BIOCHEMISTRY OF WATER

Webquest

To complete this Webquest on the Biochemistry of Water you will need to read

through the material provided AND use the link to the website by USGS on

water. When you’ve completed your quest, save this to your hard drive, you will

need it to complete the assignment for this lesson.

1. Explore the USGS website on water and find its pH level. What is that

level and is it an acid or a base?

5.6 If the PH is greater than 7 then it is a Base.

2. Water has a very high surface tension. What important action does this

allow for in plants AND in the blood vessels of living organisms?

!

3. Why is water called the “universal solvent”?

Water is called the Universal Solvent because it dissolves more

substances than any other liquid.

4. Why is this property of water important (universal solvent)?

Wherever water goes, either through the ground or through our

bodies, it takes along valuable chemicals, minerals, and nutrients.

5. How much water must humans replace in their bodies each day, either

through drinking or in the foods eaten?

You would need to drink about 8 cups of water to replace what you

lost.

6. In Biochemistry, we say that water is “sticky”. What is meant by this and

how does it benefit living organisms?

When water is sticky it forms water drops, like rain.

7. According to NASA, how much of the Earth’s surface is covered in water?

How much water makes up the human body?

More than 70% of the earth is covered in water. Men are made up of

about 60% of water. Females are made up of about 55% of water.

8. Water is considered a limited resource, we are not able to “make more” of

it. In fact, scientists state that we have the same water now as existed

when dinosaurs roamed the Earth! What process is responsible for

fantastic recycling event?

Fossil Fuels and Oils.

9. How is the polarity of water like a magnet?

The positive end of the water will connect with the negative end of

other molecules....