AP BIOLOGY

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BIOCHEMISTRY

PROPERTIES OF WATER

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which property of water allows it to stick to the sides of “water tubes” in plants and aid in moving water from the roots, up the stem, through the branch, and out through the leaves for photosynthesis? This is also called “capillary action".
A
Adhesion
B
Cohesion
C
Hydrogen Bonds
D
High heat of vaporization
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Water has an amazing ability to adhere (stick) to itself and to other substances. Hydrogen bonds form when hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), or fluorine (F) in the form of covalent compounds such as ammonia (NH3), water (H2O) and hydrogen fluoride gas (HF).

Detailed explanation-2: -Because water molecules like to stick together (cohesion) and like to stick to the walls of the tubes of cellulose (adhesion), they rise up the tubes all the way from the roots to the leaves. Water then evaporates from the leaves, helping to draw up more water from the roots. This process is called capillary action.

Detailed explanation-3: -Water molecules are not attracted only to each other. Adhesion is the tendency of water to stick to other substances. You see adhesion at work when you add water to a graduated cylinder.

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