Biological Molecules: Water

Technically water is not a biological molecule- it does not contain carbon!  However; because of its importance to human physiology it is included here. Water is involved in all the chemical reactions in our bodies.  The two main classes of chemical reactions are Synthesis and Hydrolysis.  As you read on examples of these reactions will be presented. 

Water is a polar molecule.  Polar means that each molecule is partially charged. One end (the hydrogens) is positive, and the other (oxygen) end is negative.

Adjacent water molecules will be attracted to each other- the positive end of one molecule to the negative end of another.  The connection between the two is called a hydrogen bond.  Hydrogen bonds are weak bonds.

Because water is polar it is a good: solvent, temperature regulator, and lubricant.