Lesson 3.1.7.1

3.1.7.1 Properties of water in biology Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.7.1, Properties of water in biology: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 1: Biological molecules, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which property of water allows it to take part directly in biological reactions?

    • Coolant
    • Buffer
    • Solvent
    • Metabolite

  2. Which chemical property of water makes it an effective solvent for ionic compounds?

    • Polarity
    • High viscosity
    • High density
    • Non-polar nature

  3. Which water property buffers aquatic habitats against rapid temperature changes?

    • High surface tension
    • High specific heat capacity
    • High density
    • High latent heat

  4. Which property of water provides efficient cooling through evaporation with minimal water loss?

    • High tensile strength
    • High latent heat
    • High surface tension
    • High specific heat capacity

  5. Which property of water allows continuous columns of water to be pulled up xylem vessels?

    • Solvent power
    • Adhesion
    • High density
    • Cohesion

  6. Which property of water creates surface tension where water meets air?

    • Adhesion
    • Cohesion
    • High density
    • High viscosity

  7. What type of bond forms between adjacent water molecules?

    • Hydrogen bonds
    • Ionic bonds
    • Glycosidic bonds
    • Peptide bonds

  8. How much heat energy is required to evaporate 1 g of water at its boiling point, using a latent heat of about 2260 J/g?

    • 22.6 kJ
    • 226 J
    • 2260 J
    • 4.18 kJ

  9. How much heat energy is needed to raise the temperature of 100 g of water by 10 C, given a specific heat capacity of 4.18 J/(g C)?

    • 4180 J
    • 41.8 kJ
    • 2090 J
    • 418 J

  10. How much energy is needed to raise 250 g of water by 20 C, using a specific heat capacity of 4.18 J/(g C)?

    • 209 kJ
    • 20.9 kJ
    • 2.09 kJ
    • 4.18 kJ

  11. A mammal loses 5 g of water by evaporation from its skin. Using a latent heat of 2260 J/g, how much heat is removed from the body?

    • 1130 J
    • 11300 J
    • 2260 J
    • 22600 J

  12. Which two forces keep water moving up xylem vessels as a continuous column?

    • Adhesion and density
    • Tension and compression
    • Cohesion and viscosity
    • Cohesion and adhesion

  13. Which property of water allows small insects to walk across the surface of a pond?

    • Surface tension
    • Specific heat capacity
    • High density
    • Latent heat

  14. Which property of water buffers internal temperature changes within living organisms?

    • High latent heat
    • High specific heat capacity
    • High cohesive force
    • High transparency

  15. Why is water an effective solvent for ionic compounds?

    • Low viscosity
    • High heat capacity
    • Covalent bonding
    • Polarity

  16. Which force attracts water molecules to the cellulose walls of xylem vessels?

    • Cohesion
    • Tension
    • Capillarity
    • Adhesion

  17. Which property allows sweating to cool organisms efficiently with minimal water loss?

    • High surface tension
    • High density
    • High specific heat
    • High latent heat

  18. Which term describes water when it acts directly as a reactant in chemical reactions?

    • Solvent
    • Metabolite
    • Buffer
    • Coolant

  19. In which type of metabolic reaction is a water molecule used to break chemical bonds?

    • Hydrolysis
    • Oxidation
    • Phosphorylation
    • Condensation

  20. Which bonds between water molecules give water a relatively high boiling point?

    • Peptide bonds
    • Covalent bonds
    • Ionic bonds
    • Hydrogen bonds

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