2021 - 2022

PRELIMINARY LEARNING MODULE

Name: ____________________________________________________________
Grade & Section: _________________________________________________
Teacher: Mrs. Rechelle S. Erasga___________________
Contact Number: _________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________

EARTH SCIENCE 1
 PRAYER

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lord God in heaven. Thank you for the new day you've bestowed upon us. Until this moment, we still have
our borrowed life and strength from you.
At this moment, we will continue to study and acquire new knowledge. May you bless your students with witty
brain to think fast and an inquiring mind to be curious on whatever knowledge they will learn today. Most
importantly bless them with Your wisdom and a heart that will follow your commandments in order for them to
become worthy in their studies. We worship and praise Your Holy Name.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be, world without end. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

EARTH SCIENCE 2
 UNIT 1: Chapter 1

Content Standard
The learners demonstrate an understanding of…
1. the formation of the universe and the solar system
2. the subsystems (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere) that make up the
Earth

Performance Standard
✓ make a concept map and use it to explain how the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and
biosphere are interconnected

Most Essential Learning Competencies:

1. Describe the characteristics of Earth that are necessary to support life
2. Explain that the Earth consists of four subsystems, across whose boundaries matter and
energy flow

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, I can:
Lesson 1:
1. Recognize the difference in the physical and chemical properties between the Earth and its
neighboring planets
2. Identify the factors that allow a planet to support life and;
3. Write ways on how to protect our planet

Lesson 2:
1. Define the concept of a system
2. Recognize the Earth as a system composed of subsystems and;
3. Explain how subsystem of the Earth are interconnected.

EARTH SCIENCE 3
LESSON 1: Earth as the Only Habitable Planet
The Solar System is composed of the sun and the eight planets revolving around it. Among
those eight planets, only one can support life: Earth. But how come Earth can support life while the
other planets cannot?
There are two major requirements for a planet to become habitable. First, the star should
survive long enough for its planets to develop life. Second, the planet should exist in a region where
water could remain liquid. The first requirement indicates that massive stars would have the least
possibility to be habitable since they can only live for a relatively short period. Compared to medium-
mass stars, such as the sun, which can survive long enough for life to develop.
The second requirement entails that the planet must be located in the Goldilocks Zone. Just like
in the story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” being in the Goldilocks Zone indicates that due to the
distance of Earth from the sun, the amount of heat and solar energy received is just enough to make
the temperature of Earth neither too hot nor too cold. For the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, since
they are too close, the energy received from the sun is too much, contributing to the increase in
temperature of their surfaces. For the other planets, such as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and
Neptune, their distances from the sun are so far that the energy they receive is very little, making these
planets very cold.

Aside from their distance from the sun, planets may also have other features that are not suitable
for life. Mercury, for example, experiences extreme temperatures due to its slow rotation. It also has a
very thin atmosphere that Is not capable of capturing and maintaining the right amount of heat. Venus,
on the other hand, is very hot because it has a lot of active volcanoes that produce a very thick
atmosphere. The thick atmosphere contributes to an increased greenhouse effect, making the surface
temperature very high; In contrast with Venus, the fourth terrestrial planet, Mars, has very little volcanic
activity. As a result, it has a thin atmosphere and cold surface temperature. The Jovian planets, on the
other hand, are mainly composed of gases. Therefore, there is no land where organisms can live. With
these features, it can be clearly seen how Earth is the only planet compatible with life.

EARTH SCIENCE 4
LESSON 2: Subsystems of the Earth System

What are the different spheres that make up Earth?

Earth is the third planet from the sun and the only planet In the Solar
System that can sustain life. Pictures taken from space describe Earth
as “the blue marble,” since what is mostly seen is the vast oceans of
Earth that has a far larger area than the land. Swirling clouds can
also be seen suspended above the land and oceans.
With these, it can clearly be seen that Earth is divided into
different spheres: 'hydrosphere, the water portion; the atmosphere,
the gaseous envelope; the geosphere, the solid component; and the
biosphere, the living component of Earth. These spheres interact with
one another, enabling Earth to sustain life. The interaction of the
spheres is what makes Earth a system, where one sphere cannot act
independently from the rest.

A system is a set of interconnected components that are interacting to form a unified whole. Example
is an ecosystem where organisms are interrelated and interacting.

A closed system is a system in which there is only an exchange of heat or energy and no exchange
of matter.

Earth system is essentially a closed system. It receives energy from the sun and returns some of this
energy to space

1. Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the thin gaseous layer that envelopes the
lithosphere. The present atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen
(N), 21% oxygen (O2), 0.9% argon, and trace amount of other
gases. One of the most important processes by which the heat on
the Earth's surface is redistributed is through atmospheric
circulation. There is also a constant exchange of heat and moisture
between the atmosphere and the hydrosphere through the
hydrologic cycle. The set of processes occurring within the
atmosphere includes weather and climate. The atmosphere
provides the exchange of gases we need for respiration and also
protects us from too much ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun.

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2. Lithosphere
The lithosphere includes the rocks of the crust and
mantle, the metallic liquid outer core, and the solid
metallic inner core.
Crust is the thin, outermost layer of the Earth; is of
two different types: continental crust and oceanic
crust.
Mantle is the middle layer of the earth between the
crust and the core; makes up about 83% of Earth’s
interior.
Core is the innermost layer of the earth; outer core is in a liquid state whereas inner core is in solid
state.

3. Biosphere
The biosphere is the set of all life forms on Earth. It
covers all ecosystems—from the soil to the rainforest,
from mangroves to coral reefs, and from the plankton-
rich ocean surface to the deep sea. For the majority of
life on Earth, the base of the food chain comprises
photosynthetic organisms. During photosynthesis, CO2
is sequestered from the atmosphere, while oxygen is
released as a byproduct. The biosphere is a CO2 sink,
and therefore, an important part of the carbon cycle.

4. Hydrosphere
About 70% of the Earth is covered with liquid water
(hydrosphere) and much of it is in the form of ocean
water. Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh: two-thirds are
in the form of ice, and the remaining one-third is
present in streams, lakes, and groundwater. The
oceans are important sinks for CO2 through direct
exchange with the atmosphere and indirectly through
the weathering of rocks. Heat is absorbed and
redistributed on the surface of the Earth through ocean
circulation. The Earth subsystems are interconnected; what affects one can affect another. When huge
amount of air in the atmosphere becomes saturated with water, precipitation, such as rain or snow, can
fall to Earth’s surface. That precipitation connects the hydrosphere with the lithosphere by promoting
erosion and weathering, surface processes that slowly break down large rocks into smaller ones. Over
time, erosion and weathering change large pieces of rocks or even mountains into sediments like sand
or mud.

EARTH SCIENCE 6
 UNIT 2:

Content Standard
The learners demonstrate an understanding of…
1. the three main categories of rocks
2. the origin and environment of formation of common minerals and rocks
3. the various sources of energy (fossil fuels, geothermal, hydroelectric)
4. the amount of usable water resources on Earth

Performance Standard
The learners shall be able to…
1. make a plan that the community may use to conserve and protect its resources for future
generations; and
2. prepare a plan that the community may implement to minimize waste when people utilize materials
and resources.

Most Essential Learning Competencies:

1. Identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical and chemical properties.
2. Classify rocks into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
3. Identify the minerals important to society
4. Describe how ore minerals are found, mined, and processed for human use
5. Describe how fossil fuels are formed
6. Explain how heat from inside the Earth (geothermal) and from flowing water (hydroelectric) is
tapped as a source of energy for human use
7. Identify the various water resources on Earth

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, I can:
Lesson 1:
1. identify common rock-forming minerals using their physical and chemical properties guided by Mineral
Hardness Scale

Lesson 2:
1. classify and describe the three basic rock types;
2. establish relationships between rock types and the origin and environment of deposition/formation; and
3. understand the different geologic processes involved in rock formation.

Lesson 3:
1. explain the different ways on how the mineral deposits are formed.
2. explain the impact of mining.
3. research on a local mine in the Philippines
EARTH SCIENCE 7
Lesson 4:
1. describe how fossil fuels are formed;
2. explain how heat from inside the earth is tapped as a source of energy (geothermal) for human use; and
3. explain the importance of energy resources

Lesson 5:
1. describe how water is distributed on earth;
2. explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for human use; and
3. suggest ways of conserving and protecting water resources.

EARTH SCIENCE 8
Chapter 2 - LESSON 1: Minerals and Rocks
The different rock formations found on Earth were formed by the external and internal processes
which took hundreds and thousands of years. With that much amount of time, rock formations contain
information about the events that happened throughout Earth’s history.
Is mineral the same as rock?
Mineral is different from a rock. A mineral is a solid inorganic compound, represented by a
chemical formula. A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals. example, coal is a sedimentary rock
composed of carbon.
Physical Properties of Minerals
Do you know that there are over 5000 approved mineral species? The stones are usually named
after the name of the discoverer, and/ or location where the mineral was found; its name may also be
based on their chemical composition, and properties. The common suffix of mineral is -ite, meaning
“belonging”.
1. Crystal Structure
Crystal structure describes the orderly
geometric spatial arrangement of atoms of a
mineral.

2. Crystal habit

Crystal habit refers to the overall shape of a mineral. Common shapes include needlelike (acicular),
plantlike (dendritic), kidney-shaped (reniform), elongated in one direction (prismatic), and broad and
flat (tabular).

3. Hardness
Hardness refers to the mineral's resistance to scratch. This property is dependent on the chemical
composition and the crystalline structure of a mineral.
The most common scale of measurement is Mohs scale. It is described by ten indicators. A
mineral with a higher index can scratch the minerals below it.

EARTH SCIENCE 9
 4. Color and Streak
Minerals come in different colors especially mineral gems. Mineral
gems are rare and are used to make jewelry. Examples of mineral
gems commonly referred to as gemstones include diamond,
emerald, sapphire, ruby, opal, aquamarine, turquoise, jade, peridot,
topaz, garnet, amethyst, sunstone, and others.
The streak of a mineral refers to the color of the mineral in
powdered form. You can do streak test plate (back side of a porcelain
tile). The streak may or may not be the same as the body color of the
mineral.

5. Transparency and Lustre

A mineral is transparent if it allows the light to pass through and you can see objects through. It is
opaque if light cannot pass through and you cannot see objects through it. It is translucent if it
allows some light to pass through and objects cannot be clearly seen through it. An example is of a
translucent mineral jadeite.
Lustre indicates how light is reflected off a surface of a mineral. There are qualitative terms to
describe this property, such as metallic (galena and pyrite), vitreous or glass (silicates), pearly (talc),
dull (hematite), greasy (halite), silky (gypsum).

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6. Cleavage

Cleavage refers to the mineral's resistance to being broken. It

describes how a mineral breaks along weakness plain. The quantity
of cleavage can be described in how clearly or easily the mineral
breaks, like perfect, good, distinct, poor, or indisctinct.

7. Specific Gravity
Specific gravity describes the mineral's density in comparison to the density of a standard like water.
Specific gravity can be determined using a balance.

Mineral Specific Gravity

Copper 8.9

Silver 10.5

Lead 11.3

Gold 19

8. Other Properties

Magnetism, odor, taste, tenacity, reaction to acid, etc. For example, magnetite is strongly magnetic;
sulfur has distinctive smell; halite is salty; calcite fizzes with acid as with dolomite but in powdered
form; etc.

EARTH SCIENCE 11
Chapter 2 - LESSON 2: Classification of Rocks

Exogenic processes include geological phenomena and processes that originate externally to
the Earth’s surface. They are genetically related to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, and
therefore to processes of weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, denudation etc.

Rock Classifications
Rocks are classified on the basis of the mode of formation. The three rock types are igneous,
sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
1. Igneous rocks - rocks that are formed from the
solidification of molten rock material (magma or
lava). Molten rock material can solidify below
the surface of the earth (plutonic igneous
rocks) or at the surface of the Earth (volcanic
igneous rocks). Minerals are formed during the
crystallization of the magma. Note that the rate
of cooling is one of the most important factors
that control crystal size and the texture of the
rock in general. Magma is a molten rock
material beneath the surface of the earth. Lava
is molten rock material extruded to the surface
of the earth through volcanic or fissure
eruptions. Igneous rocks are subdivided on the basis of whether they formed on Earth’s surface
or within Earth’s interior.

• Volcanic (extrusive) igneous rocks form when molten rock (magma) in Earth’s interior
rises to the surface through pipes or fractures in the crust. Volcanic landforms are the most
readily recognized representation of igneous rocks.
• Plutonic (intrusive) igneous rocks form when magma cools within Earth. Igneous rocks
that cool below Earth's surface are termed plutonic (or intrusive) igneous rocks. The features
they form are plutons (or intrusions).

Igneous rocks are also classified according to silica content: felsic, intermediate, mafic and
ultramafic.
• felsic: also called granitic; >65% silica, generally light-colored
• intermediate: also called andesitic; 55-65% silica; generally medium colored (medium gray)
• mafic: also called basaltic; 45-55% silica; generally dark colored
• ultramafic: <45% silica; generally very dark colored; composed mainly of olivine and pyroxene which
are the major constituents of the upper mantle

EARTH SCIENCE 12
 2. Sedimentary rocks are rocks that formed through
the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of
sediments. They generally form at surface or near
surface conditions. Sedimentary processes at or
near the surface of the Earth include weathering of
rocks, sediment transport and deposition,
compaction and cementation affected by different
factors such as weathering and transport agents
like water and wind ice.
Common sedimentary features: strata and fossils

Sedimentary rocks can be divided into three fundamental types:

a. Clastic sedimentary rocks composed of sediments, rock and mineral fragments formed when
rocks disintegrate at or near Earth's surface. The basic building blocks of clastic sedimentary rocks are
sediments, rock and mineral fragments formed when rocks disintegrate on the earth's surface. Clastic
sedimentary rocks are formed in three steps that require the generation, transportation, and deposition
of sediments.

b. Chemical sedimentary rocks precipitated

from a solution (e.g., seawater) as a result of
changing physical conditions (e.g., evaporation).
The most common solution is seawater. These
minerals are dissolved from rocks on the
continents and transported to the oceans in
solution in streams. Vast shallow tropical oceans
were the source for the bulk of the chemical
sedimentary rocks that are present at the surface
across North America today.
Rock salt forms as a result of changing physical
conditions (increasing temperature). Minerals
dissolved in seawater are precipitated when the
water evaporates to form rocks such as gypsum
and rock salt (halite).

EARTH SCIENCE 13
c. Biochemical sedimentary rocks formed by the actions of living organisms or composed of the
remains of dead organisms that cause minerals to be precipitated from a solution or are composed
of the remains of dead organisms.
Limestone forms when living marine organisms
precipitate minerals from seawater to build their
skeletons. The actions of organisms in seawater
change the composition of the water resulting in the
precipitation of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate),
the principal ingredient in limestone. Massive limestone
coral reefs around the world were built up because of
the actions of the coral organisms. The skeletons of
some microorganisms collect on the sea floor to form
deposits of chalk, a type of limestone. The shells of
larger organisms may be broken down and sorted by
wave action to form a clastic form of limestone known
as coquina. Additional disintegration may form sand-
or mud-size particles that become lithified into medium- to fine-grained limestones, respectively.
Some biochemical rocks are composed of the remains of dead organisms. The most common
example is coal, the compacted remains of dead plants that grew in a tropical swamp environment.
These rocks are sometimes termed organic sedimentary rocks.

3. Metamorphic rocks - rocks that form from the transformation of pre-existing rocks (igneous,
sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks) through the process of metamorphism. Metamorphism can
involve changes in the physical and chemical properties of rocks in response to heat, pressure, and
chemically active fluids. They are commonly formed underneath the earth.
Two Types of Metamorphism
Contact metamorphism occurs when rocks undergo metamorphism because they come in contact
with a heat source (usually a magma body). Essentially the rocks are getting cooked. A comparable
change occurs in roasting meat or baking bread - the initial composition does not change but the texture
of the material does. Creates non-foliated metamorphic rocks (e.g. hornfels)
Regional metamorphism occurs when rocks undergo increased temperatures and pressures and is
typically associated with the formation of mountain belts. In these areas rocks may be buried to great
depths (10-20 km). Creates foliated metamorphic rocks such as schist and gneiss

EARTH SCIENCE 14
 ROCK CYCLE
Suppose you start with metamorphic rocks. The magma cools and solidifies through the process
of crystallization, which may occur either beneath the surface of Earth or at surface through volcanic
eruption. The resulting rock is called igneous rocks.
The igneous rocks undergo weathering. The eroded materials are deposited as sediments. The
sediments undergo lithification (conversion into rock) to become sedimentary rocks when compacted
and cemented.
If the sedimentary rocks are buried deep within Earth, they will be subjected to heat and pressure,
changing them into metamorphic rocks. If the metamorphic rocks are subjected to higher temperature,
they will melt and turn into magma. The magma will solidify into igneous rocks, and the cycle starts
anew. Likewise, when igneous rocks are subjected to heat and pressure, just like sedimentary rocks,
they will be changed into metamorphic rocks.
Other sources of sediments include igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks, and sedimentary rocks, through
the processes of weathering, uplift, transportation, and deposition.

EARTH SCIENCE 15
Chapter 2 Lesson 3: Mineral Resources
Some minerals are very useful. An ore is a rock that contains minerals with useful elements.
Aluminum in bauxite ore (Figure below) is extracted from the ground and refined to be used in
aluminum foil and many other products. The cost of creating a product from a mineral depends on how
abundant the mineral is and how much the extraction and refining processes cost. Environmental
damage from these processes is often not figured into a product’s cost. It is important to use mineral
resources wisely.

Aluminum is made from the aluminum-bearing minerals in bauxite.

A. Finding and Mining Minerals

Geologic processes create and concentrate minerals that are valuable natural resources.
Geologists study geological formations and then test the physical and chemical properties of soil and
rocks to locate possible ores and determine their size and concentration.

A mineral deposit will only be mined if it is profitable. A concentration of minerals is only called
an ore deposit if it is profitable to mine. There are many ways to mine ores.

1. Surface Mining

Surface mining allows extraction of ores that are close to

Earth’s surface. Overlying rock is blasted and the rock that
contains the valuable minerals is placed in a truck and taken
to a refinery. Surface mining includes open-pit mining and
mountaintop removal. Other methods of surface mining
include strip mining, placer mining, and dredging. Strip mining
is like open pit mining but with material removed along a strip.

These different forms of surface mining are methods of extracting ores close to Earth’s surface.

2. Underground Mining
Underground mining is used to recover ores that are
deeper into Earth’s surface. Miners blast and tunnel into
rock to gain access to the ores. How underground
mining is approached – from above, below, or sideways
– depends on the placement of the ore body, its depth,
concentration of ore, and the strength of the
surrounding rock.

EARTH SCIENCE 16
Underground mining is very expensive and dangerous. Fresh air and lights must also be brought into
the tunnels for the miners, and accidents are far too common.

B. Ore Extraction

The ore’s journey to becoming a useable material is only just beginning when the ore leaves the mine
(Figure below). Rocks are crushed so that the valuable minerals can be separated from the waste rock.
Then the minerals are separated out of the ore. A few methods for extracting ore are:

• heap leaching: the addition of chemicals, such as cyanide or acid, to remove ore.
• flotation: the addition of a compound that attaches to the valuable mineral and floats.
• smelting: roasting rock, causing it to segregate into layers so the mineral can be extracted.

To extract the metal from the ore, the rock is melted at a temperature greater than 900°C, which
requires a lot of energy. Extracting metal from rock is so energy intensive that if you recycle just 40
aluminum cans, you will save the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.

C. Mining and the Environment

Although mining provides people with many needed resources, the environmental costs can be high.
Surface mining clears the landscape of trees and soil, and nearby streams and lakes are inundated
with sediment. Pollutants from the mined rock, such as heavy metals, enter the sediment and water
system. Acids flow from some mine sites, changing the composition of nearby waterways.

Mining in the Philippines

EARTH SCIENCE 17
Chapter 2 - Lesson 4: Energy Resources

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

I. EVER WONDER WHERE A “FOSSIL FUEL” GETS ITS NAME?

Fossil fuels are compound mixtures made of fossilized plant and animal remnants from millions
of years ago. The creation of fossil fuels—either oil, natural gas, or coal—from these fossils is
determined by the type of fossil, the amount of heat, and the amount of pressure.

Fuels are sources of energy and fossil fuels are no different. The energy in fossil fuels comes
from the sun, which drives photosynthesis to change carbon dioxide and water into the molecular
building blocks of ancient plants and animals. Both plants and animals build their bodies using
predominantly carbon and hydrogen atoms and it is the stored energy in the fossilized hydrocarbon-
type compounds that serve as fuel when burned.

II. DECOMPOSITION
As the fossil material begins to get buried deeper and deeper underground it is subjected to
increased heat and pressure. As the heat rises, the fossil molecules begin to break apart. The initial
breakdown creates partially changed materials, like peat from plants and kerogen from plankton. These
transitional materials can be used as fuel sources too, however, they have less stored energy than fully
formed coal, natural gas, or oil.

III. FOSSIL FUELS FORM

After millions of years underground, the compounds that make up plankton and plants turn into
fossil fuels. Plankton decomposes into natural gas and oil, while plants become coal. Today, humans
extract these resources through coal mining and the drilling of oil and gas wells on land and offshore.
They are sought after because they contain stored energy, and when burned, fossil fuels power
machinery and provide transportation, as well as the electricity essential to modern-day life. They also
contain essential ingredients used within the chemical industry.

a. Coal is formed from fossilized plants. As the plants get buried deeper and deeper underground
they become subjected to intense heat.

B. Similar to oil, natural gas is formed from buried plankton, but also from coal in late stages of
breakdown. The creation of natural gas, however,
requires higher temperatures than oil.

C. Oil is formed from buried plankton. As sediment accumulates on top of the fossilized plankton
over the millennia, intense heat flow from the depths of the earth transform the plankton into oil.

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Renewable Energy Resources
1. Geothermal Energy

As you descend deeper into the Earth's crust, underground

rock and water become hotter. This heat can be recovered using
different geothermal technologies depending on the
temperature. But the heat resources in geothermal reservoirs are
not inexhaustible.

2. Hydroelectric Power

Is the energy obtained from converting the kinetic energy of fast moving water into electricity. Waterfalls,
running rivers, tidal power, and ocean waves are great options for hydroelectric power. In other cases,
the water is collected in a dam or reservoir, and is allowed to flow constantly over a steep slope to
harness hydroelectric energy.

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Thermal Gradient

• The adjective geothermal comes from the Greek words ge (earth) and thermos (heat). It covers all
techniques used to recover the heat that is naturally present in the Earth’s subsurface, particularly in
aquifers, the rock reservoirs that contain groundwater. About half this thermal (or “heat”) energy comes
from the residual heat produced when the planet was formed 4.5 billion years ago and about half from
natural radioactivity.

• The temperature of geothermal water increases with depth, depending on the thermal gradient — the
average rate at which the temperature rises with depth — of the region where it is found. The average
value of the gradient worldwide is 3°C per 100 meters of depth, but it varies between 1°C and 10°C per
100 meters depending on the physical conditions and geology of the region.

How is heat from inside the earth tapped as a source of energy for human use?

• Thermal energy, contained in the earth, can be used directly to supply heat or can be converted to
mechanical or electrical energy.

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Unit 2 Lesson 5: Water Resources

A. Mineral Exploration
Water is a simple compound, made of two atoms of hydrogen and
one atom of oxygen bonded together. More than any other substance
on the Earth, water is important to life and has remarkable properties.
Without water, life could probably not even exist on Earth. When
looking at Earth from space, the abundance of water on Earth
becomes obvious — see Figure 1. On land, water is also common: it
swirls and meanders through streams, falls from the sky, freezes into
snow flakes, and even makes up most of you and me. In this section,
we’ll look at the distribution of water on Earth, and also examine some
of its unique properties.

B. Distribution of Water on Earth

About 70% of Earth’s surface is covered with water. Despite this, we hear of water depletion or the
need to conserve water.
Water is important for living things. In the modern human civilization, the quality of water is as
important as its quantity. Water must be free of pollutants which are mostly bacterial in content, toxic
chemicals and suspended solid substances. Without these pollutants, water is considered suitable for
use. Oceans and other large bodies of water (marine waters) contain a large amount of salts and
minerals, which is why they cannot be used by humans even in commercial and industrial operations
unless they go through desalination (the process of removing dissolved salts from water to produce
freshwater).

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 Uncontaminated groundwater is the most readily available source of freshwater. It represents about
90% of the world's readily available freshwater source, followed by reservoirs, lakes, and rivers.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP 2007), there is enough
freshwater on the planet to meet our needs. However, freshwater is not evenly distributed around the
world, and much of it is wasted, polluted, or unsustainably managed in areas where freshwater is
available.

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