BIO 122 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Kinetic Energy, Thermal Energy, Hydrogen Bond
22 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Water is the biological medium on earth. It"s the only common substance to exist in the natural environment in all three physical states of matter. The polarity of the water molecule allows it to interact with other molecules. Water"s unique emergent properties help make earth suitable for life. Hydrogen bonds: further explained in chemical content of life notes. Ice floats in liquid because hydrogen bonds in ice are more ordered, making ice less dense than water. Water reaches its greatest density at 4 degrees c. If ice sank, all bodies of water would eventually freeze solid, making life impossible on earth. Possible evolution on other planets: biologists seeking life on other planets have concentrated their search on planets with water, evidence that some planets outside of our solar system likely had water, in our solar system, mars is believed to have water. Four emergent properties of water contribute to earth""s suitability for life:
