Q.5 Water is indispensable for life. What properties of water make it useful for all biological processes on the earth?
Properties of water that makeit usefulforalf biological processes on the earth are
(i) Water is the major solvent through which mineral nutrients enter a plant from the soil solution. (ii) It is an ideal solvent with neutral pH. (iii) Water is the major constituent of Protoplasm. It constitute approximately 90% of the protoplasm. (iv) Water act as a medium for translocation of nutritive substances. Mineral nutrients are transported by the roots, Carbohydrates that are formed during photosynthesis are transported by water from cell to Cell, tissue to tissue and organ to organ.
(v) In plants, water is involved in photosynthesis by incorporating hydrogen atom into and carbohydrate oxygen atoms are further released as O. (vi) Water act as agent for temperature control. The specific heat of water helps plant in aintaining a relative stable internal temperature. (vii) In some plants water is necessary for pollination. Like in bryophytes and pteridophytes, they essentially require water for the fertilisation process.
