4.1.3

Water

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Water

Water is a very important solvent (things can be dissolved in it) in living organisms. This means substances can be transported in it, and chemical reactions can take place in it. The chemical symbol for water is H2O; it is made of the elements hydrogen and oxygen.

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Transport

  • Blood is made mainly of water, with many substances (such as soluble food particles) dissolved in it and transported around the body.
  • Waste products such as excess salt are dissolved in urine (which is mainly water), and passed out of the body.
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Reactions

  • Most human digestive enzymes (proteins that break down large food particles) only work when dissolved in water.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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