Properties of Water essays

Properties of Water essays Life on Earth would be non-existent without the presence of water. The importance of water is so great that it is the very essence of human life, animal life and a stable environment. Water is an abundant resource on the Earth, making up the vast majority of the world, our anatomy and other life forms. The unique qualities that water possesses retain the fitness of life on Earth. Surface tension is one unique property of water that makes life possible on Earth. Surface tension is the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water. Each molecule in the water drop is attracted to the other water molecules in the drop. This causes the water to pull itself into a shape with the smallest amount of surface area. Water is sticky and elastic, and tends to clump together in drops rather than spread out in a thin film. All the water molecules on the surface of the bead are 'holding' each other together or creating surface tension. Water's hydrogen atoms are grouped to one side. This allows a small electric charge different on the two ends of the water molecule. This charge causes the water molecules to line up and loosely connect producing surface tension. Surface tension is responsible for capillary action, which allows water and other substances to move through the roots of plants and through the tiny blood vessels in our bodies. Surface tension also allows insects to skate across the surface of water. Water is a very powerful solvent. More substances dissolve in water than in any other liquid. Water is often called the universal solvent. The reason for water's excellent dissolving capability relates to its polarity. The hydrogen atoms attached to the oxygen atom branch away from each other. The hydrogen acts as a positively charged pole, while the oxygen acts as a negatively charged pole. This enables water to act as a "universal" solvent. Water has both positive and negative charges to which other atoms of molecules ...