Question

Mark the following statements as true or false concerning waters relevance to living systems. Water is the universal solvent in biological systems. Water bathes organs in fluid, which provides protection and support. The high specific heat of water means that we only lose a small amount of heat when the sweat on our skin evaporates. Water plays a major role in our bodies’ chemical reactions.

Answer 1

Answer:

Water is the universal solvent in biological systems. - TRUE

Water bathes organs in fluid, which provides protection and support. - FALSE

The high specific heat of water means that we only lose a small amount of heat when the sweat on our skin evaporates. - FALSE

Water plays a major role in our bodies’ chemical reactions. - TRUE

Explanation:

Water dissolves polar molecules hence critical solvent for energy molecules such as glucose and electrolytes such as sodium. Water also acts as a metabolite in reactions such as photolysis in photosynthesis and also in hydrolysis reactions. Water is a temperature buffer due to its high heat capacity (meaning it takes more energy to raise the temperature of water by one degree). This means it is good for the regulation of temperatures in the body.