If water has a high latent heat of vaporization, how could this property of water be helpful to plants and animals?

Correct answer: B. With the release of small amount of water vapours, a great amount of heat loss can take place.

  • A. With the release of large amount of water, a small amount of heat loss can take place.
  • B. With the release of small amount of water vapours, a great amount of heat loss can take place.
  • C. It will keep their temperature very high.
  • D. No cooling effect, with the release of even a large amount of water vapours.

Explanation

As per the formula Q=mL, since water has a high latent heat of vaporization (L), for a small mass or amount of water (m), a large amount of energy (Q) will be released which results in a large amount of heat loss, enabling the organism to remain cool via sweating (animals) or transpiration (plants). Option A describes this effect but in reverse, option C states the opposite effect as this process prevents their temperature from becoming too high, and option D is false as a cooling effect does indeed occur.

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