Question

Biochemistry: Water is the major component in the cell and its physical and chemical properties play a major role in defining the properties of biopolymers. What are these properties? With the aid of examples, briefly describe how they may be helpful in defining macromolecular structure?

Answer 1

Water is composed of Hydrogen and Oxygen, which are the simplest elements which react easily with every other element in living organism.

Properties of water which makes it important part of biopolymers are:-

Cohesion and adhesion- helps in binding of water molecules to other water molecules and to any organic surface.

Surface tension

Specific heat capacity

Hydrophilic and polar nature- that's why molecules are easily soluble in it and almost all of our body fluids are water based.

Acts as a medium for all the biochemical reactions in the cell.