Properties of Water

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WATER: PROVIDER OFLIFE Water is essential for life as we know it on Earth. It is used by plants and animals for basic biological processes which would be impossible without the use of water. The origin of all life can be traced back to the waters of the Earth. Water is also a universal solvent. In addition, it reacts with more elements and compounds than any other substance. Water is a polar molecule made up of an atom of Hydrogen and two atoms of Oxygen. It is attracted to itself by hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds are weaker than covalent bonds, but collectively, these bonds hold water together and allow it to be cohesive. Cohesion allows water molecules to stick together and flow freely without separation of its molecules. Water is also adhesive which allows it to stick to other polar molecules using its positive and negative poles. These Hydrogen bonds are also very important to water's ability to absorb heat also known as high heat capacity. Water has a boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius and a freezing point of 0 degrees Celsius. The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one Celsius degree is called a Calorie. One Calorie is about twice as much energy as you need to warm one gram of other fluids by the same amount. This makes water better for regulating the temperatures of animals and the environment. Water also has a very high heat of vaporization. Converting one gram of cold water into ice requires 80 Calories of energy. Converting the same amount of very hot water into steam requires 540 Calories of energy. The high amounts of energy required to change water from its liquid state make water feasible to stay a fluid. The process of freezing water involves slowing down the activity of the water molecules until they contract and enter into a solid state. Once the ice is cooled down to
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