Explain5 marksChallenge
The fennec fox is a small desert mammal with a high metabolic rate. Its blood plasma contains dissolved glucose and ions. Despite extreme daytime heat, the fennec fox maintains a stable internal body temperature and may use evaporative cooling (e.g., panting) to dissipate excess heat. Using your knowledge of hydrogen bonding between water molecules, explain how water's properties enable it to:
- act as an effective solvent for the transport of glucose and ions in the blood,
- minimise temperature changes, and
- provide cooling through evaporation.