Question

Describe the importance of water for living organisms.

Answer 1

Water plays the following important roles in living organisms:

1. Maintenance of body temperature: Water helps in eliminating excessive body heat that could denature proteins and disrupt biochemical pathways. This is carried out in the form of perspiration and urination in animals, and transpiration in plants.
2. As a medium of transport: Water is a universal solvent and dissolves a majority of minerals. In plants, the water absorbed through the roots helps in the transport of essential minerals. Similarly in animals, essential water-soluble vitamins and minerals are transported as an aqueous solution.
3. As a component of photosynthesis: Water forms an integral part of photosynthesis. It is the sole source of nutrition and the basis of an ecosystem's food chain.
4. In providing the required environment for the functioning of enzymes: The action of hydronium ions is required for the breakdown of several compounds like sodium bicarbonate for maintaining an alkaline medium for the action of the bile released by the pancreas.
5. Water provides the medium in which several enzymatic reactions occur: It acts as a donor of hydronium ions to maintain the buffer solution for pH maintenance which is vital for all physiological reactions to occur.
6. As a habitat for aquatic organisms: Water forms 75% of the Earth and hence is a habitat for over a million aquatic species of flora and fauna.