BRAINCAKEWater as a Solvent
Water is a polar solvent because water molecules have partial charges.
Water can therefore act as a solvent for many molecules needed for cellular functions.
The cytosols of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are mainly water. Water dissolves amino-acids, proteins, simple sugars and many molecules helps transport dissolved substances in and out of cells.
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Key terms in this lesson
- prokaryotic cell
- A cell with no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, found in bacteria.
- eukaryotic cell
- A cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, found in animals, plants, fungi and protoctists.
More in Biological Molecules
- Hydrogen Bonding and Boiling Point of Water
- Density of Water
- Cohesion, Adhesion and Surface Tension
- Specific Heat Capacity of Water
- Carbohydrates
- Glucose
- Other Monosaccharides
- Condensation Reactions
All 63 lessons in Biological Molecules · All OCR AS-level Biology topics