1.

(a) Briefly describe four characteristics of water that make it such an

important medium for life?

The characteristics of water that make it an important

component to life are as follows:
 Water is the universal solvent for both organic and inorganic
substances. It is the medium for all biochemical reactions in
the body.
 Water acts as a dispersion medium for the colloidal system in
the cytoplasmic matrix. It also enables fats and soluble fat
compounds to be carried in the form of fine emulsion droplets.
 Water can be a good electrical conductor because it can cause
molecules to form ions. The polarity of the water molecules
enables it to weaken the attraction between oppositely
charged ions such as those of sodium chloride. Immediately
after splitting, the separated ions are prevented from
recombining by water molecules which cluster around each
ion.
 Water is the transport medium for food substances, excretory
substances, respiratory gases, hormones etc.
 Because of high specific heat capacity, water acts as a
temperature stabilizer.
 Water has high heat of vaporization. Evaporation of water
uses up latent heat of vaporization and cools the body.
 For people living in cold regions, the high latent heat of fusion
protects the tissues of the body from being frozen.

(b) With the help of diagrams, compare and contrast active and
passive transport of substances through membrane.

2
 Passive transport of molecule

equilibrium
molecule O2 membrane

Active transport of two solutes across a membrane.

FLUID OUTSIDE
CELL Transport protein

1 2 3 4 5 6

CYTOPLASM
1
(

3
 Active
 Requires that a cell
expend energy (ATP) to
move molecules across a
membrane.
 A transport protein
actively pumps a specific
solute across a
membrane.
 Against the solute’s
concentration.
 Example – ions.
Passive
 Not requires ATP, the
tendency for particles of any
kind to spread and
spontaneously to regions
where they are less
concentration.
 The cell does not perform
work and the membrane not
actively change or pump.
 More concentration to the
less side concentration.
 Examples – diffusion or
osmosis of oxygen, carbon
dioxide, glucose and water.