Most cells are surrounded by water, and cells themselves are about 70-95% water.
A water molecule is held together by strong, polar covalent bonds between oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
The partially charged regions of a polar water molecule are attracted to oppositely charged parts of neighboring molecules.
Each molecule can form weak hydrogen bonds to multiple partners, conferring water unique properties.
Review:
Water molecules are also attracted to other substances, such as cell walls, by adhesion.
These properties help transport water up against gravity in plants.
Tutorial:
Water molecules form hydration shells around ions, separating them from the crystal and dissolving the salt and forming a solution.
A solution with water as the solvent is called an aqueous solution.
Substances dissolved in solution are called solutes.
For simplicity, H[3]O^+ can be viewed as H[2]O plus a H^+ (hydrogen ion), or proton.
The H^+ concentration at 25°C ranges from 1 Molar (10^0, or pH=0) to 10^-14 M (pH=14).
These concentrations are plotted on a negative logarithmic scale: each unit change in pH is a 10-fold change in H^+ ion concentration.
An acid has a high concentration of H^+ ions (low pH).
A base has a low H^+ concentration (high pH).
In human blood, dissolved CO[2] forms Carbonic acid (H[2]CO[3]).
Carbonic acid acts as a buffer by dissociating to yield a bicarbonate ion (HCO[3]^-) and a hydrogen ion (H^+) in a dynamic equilibrium.
Humans have dug up these carbon fuels to burn as energy sources, releasing excess carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen into the atmosphere.