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Water is one of the most essential substances for life on Earth. It covers about 71% of the Earth's surface
and is vital for the survival of all known forms of life. Here's a closer look at water:

1. **Chemical Composition**: Water is a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one
oxygen atom, forming the chemical formula H2O. It's a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive
charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. This polarity gives
water its unique properties.

2. **States of Matter**: Water exists in three primary states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

- Solid: Water freezes into ice at 0°C (32°F). Ice is less dense than liquid water, which is why it floats.

- Liquid: Liquid water is the form most commonly found on the Earth's surface, with a freezing point of
0°C (32°F) and a boiling point of 100°C (212°F) at standard atmospheric pressure.

- Gas: Water vapor is the gaseous form of water. It forms when liquid water evaporates, reaching its
boiling point and turning into steam.

3. **Properties of Water**:

- **High Heat Capacity**: Water can absorb and store a large amount of heat energy before its
temperature changes significantly. This property helps regulate Earth's climate and moderates
temperature changes in aquatic environments.

- **Universal Solvent**: Water is often referred to as the "universal solvent" because it can dissolve a
wide range of substances, making it essential for biological processes and many industrial applications.

- **Surface Tension**: Water molecules at the surface of a body of water are more strongly attracted
to each other than to the air above, creating surface tension. This property allows small organisms like
insects to walk on the surface of water.

- **Cohesion and Adhesion**: Water molecules are attracted to each other (cohesion) and to other
substances (adhesion), allowing water to form droplets, capillary action in plants, and the movement of
water through soil and plant tissues.

4. **Role in Biology**: Water is crucial for all forms of life. It serves as a solvent for biochemical
reactions, facilitates nutrient transport in organisms, regulates body temperature through sweating and
evaporation, and provides structural support in cells and tissues.
5. **Environmental Importance**: Water plays a vital role in shaping Earth's landscapes and
ecosystems. It contributes to weathering and erosion processes, sustains aquatic habitats, and regulates
the Earth's climate through the water cycle, which involves processes such as evaporation,
condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

In summary, water is a remarkable substance with unique chemical and physical properties that make it
essential for life and indispensable to the functioning of Earth's ecosystems. Its abundance and
versatility make it a fundamental resource for human civilization and a subject of scientific study and
conservation efforts.

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