what biological significance does this have for a panting animal?
2007-10-21 06:20:25 · 5 answers · asked by nothingspecial 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
As previous posters have said, the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules are strong and give rise to things like "surface tension" - which is why you can "overfill" a glass of water so that the surface of water domes above the rim.
The biological significance of a panting animal is that the animal is panting because it is too hot. By expelling moisture as water vapour when it pants is an efficient way of expelling lots of heat energy, since there's lots of heat energy needed to break those hydrogen bonds. In the process that heat gets lost, thereby cooling the animal down.
2007-10-21 23:47:54 · answer #1 · answered by whellad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The amount of heat required to vaporise water is high because of 2 reasons
the high specific heat of water
and the high latent heat
These can be attributed to the hydrogen bonding present between the molecules. The force of H bonding has to be overcome before water vaporises.
2007-10-21 06:39:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of energy exists in a Hydrogen bond, which is why you need a lot of energy to break the activation energy barrier to do anything with it.
THe biological significance is just that.
2007-10-21 06:23:09 · answer #3 · answered by Thera 9 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In liquid state, the water molecules are sticking to each other by hydrogen bonds. It takes a lot energy to break the hydrogen bonds to separate the water molecules.
2007-10-21 06:29:50 · answer #4 · answered by OKIM IM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it takes 1 calorie to raise the temp of 1 cm2 of water 1 degree c.
2007-10-21 06:24:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋