Abstract
Water is the main constituent of plant cells. The actual cellular water content varies with cell type and physiological condition. The physical and the chemical properties of water make it suitable for many purposes in plants. It is the medium in which diffusion of solutes takes place in plant cells. Its incompressibility means that water uptake can lead to cell expansion and also the generation of intracellular hydrostatic pressures, which can help support plants. This chapter discusses in detail the physical and chemical properties of water that are crucial for understanding biology. The physical properties of water differ markedly from those of other substances having 10 protons and 10 electrons. The melting point and the boiling point are highest for water compared to substances having a similar electron content because of the consequences of its strong intermolecular forces. The strong intermolecular forces in water result from the structure of the H2O molecule. The chapter also explores the concept of free energy.
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