Which property of water is crucial for the transport of nutrients in living organisms?

Water's solvent properties are crucial for the transport of nutrients in living organisms because water is a polar molecule, allowing it to dissolve a wide variety of substances. This characteristic enables it to carry essential nutrients, ions, and gases throughout biological systems. In plants, for example, water acts as a medium for nutrients to dissolve and then be transported through xylem and phloem. Similarly, in animals, blood, which is primarily composed of water, efficiently dissolves nutrients and transports them to various cells and tissues.

Other properties like high density, viscosity, and thermal conductivity play significant roles in various biological processes but are not directly responsible for nutrient transport. High density contributes to the buoyancy and structural support in aquatic organisms, while viscosity affects the flow of biological fluids, and thermal conductivity relates to temperature regulation within organisms. However, it is the ability of water to act as an effective solvent that is fundamentally essential for the transport of nutrients on a cellular and systemic level.