Biochemical importance of distilled water

Biochemical importance of distilled water and deionized water in clinical analysis:

Distilled water and deionized water are used in clinical laboratories due to their unique properties and high purity. The biochemical importance of Distilled water and deionized water is mainly due to their ability to provide a consistent, pure, and contaminant-free medium for preparing reagents, standardizing equipment, diluting samples, and conducting various analytical techniques. They maintain the accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of clinical laboratory results. They ultimately contribute to better patient care and scientific research. The following are the biochemical importance of the in clinical laboratories.

• 1. Removal of contaminants: Distilled water and deionized water are free from contaminants, ions, and impurities. Their high level of purity ensures they do not add unwanted substances that interfere with the accuracy of the analysis.

• 2. Reagents preparation: . Various reagents and solutions are used in the clinical laboratories. Distilled water and deionized water Distilled water and deionized water are used in the preparation of these reagents and solutions. Distilled water and deionized water do not add unwanted substances into reagents and solutions during their preparation. This helps to maintain the quality of reagents and solutions.

• 3. Standardisation of equipment: Many instruments and equipment in the clinical laboratory require Distilled water and deionized water to work effectively. It is mainly due to the purity of Distilled water and deionized water. For example, Distilled water and deionized water are used to clean, calibrate, and standardize pH meters.

• 4. Sample dilution: Samples are diluted before their analysis. Tap water is not used for dilution due to the presence of several minerals and contaminants. These minerals and contaminants interfere with sample analysis. Distilled water and deionized water are free from soluble impurities and contaminants. Thus they are used to dilute samples. This allows for accurate analysis of samples.

• 5. Buffer and media preparations: Buffer and culture media are used in clinical laboratories. The use of tap water will affect the quality of buffer and culture media. This will not give accurate results. Thus, distilled water and deionized water are used in the preparation of buffer and culture media to produce reliable and reproducible results.

• 6. Electrophoresis and chromatography: These methods are the most sensitive methods. They require the purest form of chemicals. The use of tap water will affect their sensitivity. Thus, Distilled water and deionised water are used for their proper functioning.

Solution and colloids

importance of colloids in biological systems. Surface tension, osmosis, and viscosity their importance in a biological system

• Solution: A solution is a homogeneous mixture of solute and solvent. It is composed of one substance dissolved in another substance

• Component of solution: The solution may contain many components. But at least two components are a must for a solution. This solution is called a binary solution. These components are solute and solvent.

• Solute: a component of a solution that is present in a small amount and dissolved in a solvent, is called a solute. or a substance that is soluble in another substance is called solute. The solution contains solutes as molecules or ions

• Solvent: A component of a solution that is present in large amounts and dissolves other components is called a solvent. Or a substance that dissolves other substances is called a solvent. eg. Lemonade is a solution. It is a mixture of sugar, salt, and lemon juice in water. These four components of the solution do not react with each other. Particles of each component are homogeneously mixed.

• Solubility: The maximum amount of solute in gm that can be dissolved in 100 gm of solvent at a given temperature to form a saturated solution is called solubility of solute in that solvent at the particular temperature.

  • · Unsaturated solution: A solution that can dissolve more solute in it at a given temperature is called an unsaturated solution.

  • · Saturated solution: A solution that contains the maximum amount of solute dissolved in a given quantity of solvent at a given temperature and which cannot dissolve any more solute at that temperature is called saturated solution.

  • · supersaturated solution: A solution that temporarily contains more solute than the saturation level(i.e.maximum solute)at a particular temperature is called a supersaturated solution.

Colloid: Colloid is a mixture of tiny particles of one substance evenly dispersed into another substance. These tiny particles are called colloidal particles. Colloidal particles are larger than their molecule size but smaller than particles in suspension. Size lies between 1 nm to 1000 nm (1 micrometer) size of true solution and suspension. Colloidal particles can be solid liquid or gas. A substance that carries colloidal particles is called a continuous medium. The continuous medium may be solid, liquid, or gas.

The solution is a homogeneous mixture while the colloid is a heterogeneous mixture. A heterogeneous mixture is an unstable mixture but a colloid is a stable mixture. Colloid has two phases: 1. Dispersed phase 2.Dispersion medium

• 1). Dispersed phase: A component that has been distributed through a medium is called dispersed phase.

• 2). Dispersion medium: The medium in which the dispersed phase has been distributed is called the dispersion medium or continuous medium.

Properties of colloid:

• 1) Heterogenous in nature: It consists of two phases dispersed phase and dispersion medium.

• 2) Size of particles: The diameter of colloidal particles lies between 1nm -100nm in between the particle size of the solution and suspension.

• 3) Visibility: Colloidal particles are not visible to the naked eye.

• 4) Brownian movement: Colloidal particles continuously move in a zig-zag path. This movement is visible under ultramicroscope

• 5) Tyndall effect: The scattering of a beam of light by colloidal particles is called the Tyndall effect.

A beam of light does not pass through the copper sulfate solution. The particle size is very small. These particles do not scatter light. Thus, the path of light is not visible. Tyndall effect is not observed.

The particles of colloids are bigger than solution particles. Thus they scatter light. In colloids, the path of light is visible. Tyndall effect is observed.

Importance of colloids in biological systems:

Colloids have unique properties for various functions in the organism. The colloidal system in the body maintains body fluid balance, blood functions, cellular activities, enzyme reactions, structural support, hormone transport, immune response, and several other physiological processes. The biological importance of colloids can be explained as below:

• 1. Transport of nutrients and waste: Biological fluid such as blood plasma is a colloid. Plasma proteins develop an osmotic pressure that helps to regulate the movement of water, nutrients, and waste products between the blood and surrounding tissues. The osmotic pressure of plasma prevents the accumulation of excess fluid in tissue and maintains proper fluid balance.

• 2. Blood functions: Blood is a colloidal suspension. Red blood cells are suspended in blood plasma. Blood plasma is colloid. RBC transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. Blood colloidal properties develop viscosity in blood. This viscosity is essential for proper blood circulation.

• 3. Cell Membrane function: The cell membrane is composed of two layers of lipid. These lipid layers have colloidal properties. This colloidal structure controls the movements of substances into the cell and out of the cell.

• 4. Intracellular Activities: Cells have cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is fluid with colloidal properties.. These colloidal systems help in biochemical reactions and cellular processes.

• 5. Enzyme function: Enzyme performs its function in a colloidal environment. A colloidal environment promotes the binding of the substrate with the enzyme.

• 6. Support and structure: Connective tissues in the body have a colloidal system. Connective tissues provide structural support to the body.

• 7. Hormone transport and signaling: Hormones travel inside the body through the blood and other body fluids. Blood and body fluids are colloidal systems.

• 8. Immune system: Antibodies are proteins. They form a colloidal complex with antigen

Surface tension:

Surface tension is a physical activity at the surface of a liquid. Surface tension develops at the surface of a liquid due to attractive forces between molecules present at the surface of the liquid.

• Surface tension importance in biological systems: Surface tension contributes to biological systems such as respiration, digestion, reproduction, cellular functions, protective barriers, capillary actions, etc. The following are the importance of surface tension in the biological system

• 1. Respiration: Alveoli are the tiny sacs in the lungs. It has a thin layer of water. The surface tension on the Alveoli lining prevents the collapse of the sac during respiration. It helps the movement of air and the exchange of gases.

• 2. Capillary action: Blood flows inside blood capillaries against gravitational force. Surface tension develops adhesive force between blood capillary wall and blood. This develops capillary action to flow blood into blood capillaries.

• 3. Digestion: The liver secretes bile. Bile reduces the surface tension of fat drops in the small intestine. This helps to form smaller droplets of fat that help in the digestion and absorption of fat.

• 4. Cell membrane formation: Cell membranes are made of a double layer of lipids. The surface tension of lipids helps to maintain the shape of cells.

• 5. Protective barriers: Each organ has protective layers of liquid. These protective layers remain on the surface of organs due to surface tension. For example, tears spread over the eye surface due to surface tension.

• 6. Reproduction: Surface tension helps in the movement of sperm in the female reproductive parts

Osmosis:

The movement of solvent molecules through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to a higher solute concentration is called osmosis. This movement continues till the concentration of solute becomes equal on both sides of the semipermeable membrane

. Osmosis's importance in the biological system:

Osmosis plays an important role in biological systems. Osmosis maintains

1. Cellular structure and function,

2. Nutrient absorption,

3. Waste elimination,

4. Organ functions,

5. Cellular signaling and communication, and

6. Overall physiological stability in a biological system.

Viscosity:

Thickness or resistance to the flow of fluid is called viscosity. The high viscous fluid is thick and resists flowing. The low viscous liquid is thin and easy to flow.

Viscosity importance in biological system :Viscosity of body fluids plays important role in biological system.

• 1. Blood circulation: Viscosity affects blood flow inside blood vessels. High viscosity of blood increases resistance of blood flow. This lead to increase in blood pressure.

• 2. Oxygen and nutrient delivery: Viscosity of blood affects oxygen and nutrient transportation. High viscous blood slows down the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs.

• 3. Cell movements: The body has various body fluids. Their viscosities affect the movement of cells present in body fluids. For example, cilia movement in the respiratory tract depends upon the viscosity of mucus in the respiratory tract.

• 4. Digestive process: The viscosity of food contents in the digestive system affects the digestion of food and its absorption. Appropriate viscosity allows well mixing of enzymes and food.

• 5. Joint lubrication: Synovial fluids in joints provide lubrication and reduce friction in joints during movement. Appropriate viscosity of synovial fluids is required to avoid damage to bones during movement.

• 6. Reproductive system: Seminal fluid viscosity affects sperm motility and their movement in female reproductive organs.

• 7. Disease and health conditions: Changes in body fluid viscosity develop diseases. Such an increase in the number of RBCs increases blood viscosity. It causes blood clotting in blood vessels.