water has a great heat-holding capacity. how does ????

Question

this help our bodies to function properly???

Answer 1

Most if not all of water's unique, and useful properties are largely a result of its extensive hydrogen bonding capability. It's what makes water such a unique solvent, in combination with its chemical inertness. Most other solvents do not have the strong hydrogen bonding capability of water at atmospheric temerature while remaining liquid.

As for heat capacity, this is a result of hydrogen bonding between water molecules. The reason it takes so much heat input to raise the temp of water is because to make the individual water molecules move faster (ie, heat up), the relatively strong hydrogen bonds must first be broken. Therefore water 'absorbs' lots of energy without much of a rise in temperature relative to other solvents.

This ability to absorb heat without raising temperature much is important in the body, which is constantly metabolizing glucose in a heat-liberating reaction. The high heat capacity of water thus prevents the body from drastic increases in temperature and overheating, especially when excercising! It is also important during infections, when the immune system kicks into high gear, and the hypothalamus resets the body's thermostat to higher temperatures (ie, fever). At such elevated temperatures, reactions of the immune systems to kill bacteria and such liberate heat, and since the body's enzymes begin to denature at 105°F, pinpoint temperature control is necessary to prevent further temerature rises.

Answer 2

Water has high heat capacity. This means that it takes a lot of energy to raise its temperature. This also means that it takes a lot of energy to convert it to water vapor.

This is why we sweat. As sweat evaporates, it takes a lot of heat -- heat from our bodies -- this cools us down.

Our bodies are kept warm by metabolic processes that is continually occuring in our cells. When there is too much metabolic activity (like when we exercise) or when the environmental temperature gets too high, our bodies could over-heat. Thanks to water having high heat capacity, it can be used to remove that heat and cool the body.

Answer 3

It gives us a high Thermal Inertia (or heat capacity).
This means that we have a small rise or fall of body temperature for large inputs or losses of heat energy.
It also means that our body temperature is stable during exothermic metabolism,

Thermal Heat Capacity = mass x specific heat
L = m s

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Answer 4

70% of the human body's fat-free mass is water, and it's ability to retain heat is essential to maintaining healthy function of organs that require heat and do not function effectively under hypothermic conditions.

Answer 5

In order to maintain life, you have to maintain homestatis-- you have to have the right balance of energy and how to expel energy.

In our bodies, we have a thermometer that is controlled by various organisms that work with each other. Without each other, they will not survive.