thermal properties: hydrogen bonds between polar water molecules cause water to resist change such as boiling or freezing, thus, water produces a stable environment for aquatic organisms
cohesion: hydrogen bonds between polar water molecules cause them to cohere (stick together) allowing for transpiration in plants moving water against gravity, surface tension between water molecules allowing for animals such as water striders to walk over the surface of ponds
solvent properties:the polarity of water attracts, or dissolves, any other polar or charged particles by forming hydrogen bonds with them proteins, glucose, or ions, such as sodium or calcium are all soluble
medium for metabolic reactions: cytoplasm is primarily water, providing a polar medium in which other polar or charged molecules are dissolved for metabolic reactions
_______________________________________________________________
