Functions of water in a cage. The percentage of H2O in the human body

Water is a unique substance. It is spread everywhere on our planet. Try to imagine what our life would be like without the H2O molecule? Yes, and nothing to imagine - life on our planet would not have been. A person is 70% water. The younger the organism, the more it contains, and with age this quantity decreases. For example, let's take the embryo - in it the percentage of H2O is 90%.

In the article, we suggest that you highlight all the functions of water in a cage and examine each in detail. It is important to mention that it is contained there in two forms: free and connected. We will come across this a little later.

Water

Everyone knows that water plays a very important, or rather, a key role in our life. Without it, our planet would be a dead, lifeless desert. Scientists and to this day study water and its role in the human body.

We have already said that water is found in our cells in a free and bound form. The first serves for the distribution of substances - for transporting them into and out of the cell. And the latter is observed:

• Between the fibers;
• Membranes;
• Protein molecules;
• Cellular structures.

And free, and bound water in the cell necessarily performs some functions, which we will discuss later. And now - a couple of words about how the H2O molecule itself is organized.

Molecule

To begin with, we denote the molecular formula of water: H2O. This is a very common substance on the planet, and you should remember it, because the molecular formula of water occurs quite often in different areas of knowledge. It, by the way, is contained in all human organs, even in dental enamel and bones, however, there its percentage ratio is very small - 10% and 20%, respectively.

As we have already said, the organism is younger, the more water it contains. Scientists have suggested that we grow old because the protein can not bind a large amount of water. But this, however, is only a hypothesis.

Functions

Now let's highlight the water functions in the cell, the more of them are clear from the list below:

• H2O can act as a solvent, since practically all chemical reactions - ionic - occur in water. It should be noted that there are hydrophilic substances (which are dissolved, for example, alcohol, sugar, amino acids, etc.), but there are also hydrophobic (fatty acids, cellulose and others).
• Water can act as a reagent.
• Carries out transport, thermoregulating and structural function.

We suggest to consider each of them separately. We will go in order, the first on our list is the function of the solvent.

Solvent

The functions of water in the cell are numerous, but one of the most important is the help in the course of many reactions. The H2O molecule can act as a solvent. Almost all the reactions taking place in the cell are ionic, that is, the environment in which they can pass is water.

Reagent

The following functions of water in a cell are its participation in chemical retsations that take place in the body as a reagent. These include:

• hydrolysis;
• Polymerization;
• Photosynthesis and so on.

Now a little bit about what a reagent is. In chemistry, this is the name of a substance that participates in some chemical reactions. The most important thing is that although it participates in the reaction, it is not the object of treatment. Reagents in the laboratory (in another way they are called reagents) - this is a fairly common phenomenon.

Water, as a reagent, is involved in the compilation of other substances necessary to the body.

Transport function

Why do we live? Our body exists only because the cells from which it is made are alive. And they should thank their unique structure and some possibilities of the H2O molecule. We have already mentioned that water is an integral part of our body, and each cell contains these unique molecules, or rather, it is in the first place in its composition.

The transport function of water in the cage is another destination for H2O in our body. Water has a certain feature - penetration into the intercellular space, due to this nutrients enter the cell.

Another thing to know is that blood and lymph also contain water, and its lack leads to some consequences: hemorrhage or thrombosis.

Thermoregulation

What are the functions of water in the cage we have not yet disassembled? Of course, thermoregulation. We said that water can absorb heat and retain it for a long time. Thus, H2O can protect the cell from overcooling or overheating. The function of thermoregulation is needed not only for individual cells, but for the whole organism as a whole.

Structural function

What are the functions of the water in the cage, we have already listed, it remains to disassemble one more purpose - to maintain the structure of the cells.

Have you ever tried to squeeze water in a liquid state? Even in the laboratory, this is extremely difficult. This property of water is necessary in order to maintain the shape and structure of each cell.

Remember forever: without water, life is impossible. We are thirsty when the body loses about 3% of water, and with a loss of 20%, the cells die, and, consequently, the person too. Watch how much water you drink.