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The Significance of Water Essay

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The Significance of Water Water is a molecule composed of two elements of hydrogen covalently bonded with one element of oxygen. Because of the polarity created from the covalent bond these molecules of water are all connected with a hydrogen bond. A hydrogen bond is formed when two molecules are attracted to oppositely charged components of another molecule. A hydrogen bond has about 5% the strength of a covalent bond and is responsible for some of the unique qualities found in water. It takes a large amount of energy to break down the hydrogen bonds in water allowing it to have a high specific heat, giving water its high boiling point and allowing it to maintain a liquid form over a wide …show more content…

When water takes its solid form it is less dense then in its liquid state and in the liquid form it is less dense then in the gaseous state. This is because as water decreases in temperature it approaches its maximum density. Water is most dense at 4 degrees Celsius. This is reached while water is still in its liquid form, therefore causing ice to float on water. High specific heat is significant to life on Earth because of the ability to maintain a moderate temperature while that around it is changing. As the sun beats on water during the daytime the temperature of the water slowly rises, and during the night the warm water heats the air above it causing the climate to stay relatively the same. This is why climates near large bodies of water are more moderate. Specific heat also stabilizes the ocean waters making it suitable for marine species to sustain life in their habitats. This characteristic is useful in humans, humans being composed of 65% water, because it helps to maintain a livable body temperature. Water is a great coolant because of this factor as well, for the body, cars, etc. High surface tension is a characteristic that gives greater buoyancy support for greater loads than most liquids. This is very useful for species in their habitats that use water to travel on, without breaking through the surface. Cohesion is used by plants,

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