# Describe the properties of water that make it important in living organisms.

> AQA A-Level Biology (7402) — 3.1.7 Water · Describe · 5 marks

> Water makes up a large proportion of the bodies of living organisms and is involved in many biological processes. Scientists studying life in extreme environments note that liquid water is considered essential for life.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Water is a solvent / many substances dissolve in water
2. Dissolved substances can be transported around the body / water transports substances in solution
3. Water is a reactant in chemical reactions such as digestion / hydrolysis
4. Water has a high heat capacity / large amounts of energy needed to change its temperature
5. Evaporation of water from surfaces causes cooling / sweating cools the body

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